Forfeits raise eyebrows when you’re the top-ranked team in the country two years running.
The Lakeland College Rustlers women’s basketball team has losses on record for the first time in two calendar years.
The Rustlers were scheduled to play the Rattlers in Medicine Hat on Nov. 29 before facing Briercrest in Caronport on Nov. 30.
The team, however, never left the parking lot after hearing head coach, Chris King, had been put on administrative leave effective Nov. 28.
King was allegedly benched after a former player filed an undisclosed complaint with the college.
An unnamed source with close connections to the team told the Meridian Source an outside investigation was done pending results.
This was King’s first complaint in 17 years of coaching.
In 2024, King received the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s Coaching Excellence Award. He received the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association (ACAC) Coaching Excellence Award in 2022. He’s been named the ACAC’s coach of the year in 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016 and 2015.
The Meridian Source was told his players had the option to compete last weekend, they simply chose not to.
“Both assistant coaches were asked to coach, they refused to coach,” said the source. “The complaint came from the team, but the team refused to play, that says something.”
The Meridian Source was told the complaint was filed by a player who left the team before the start of the season.
The unnamed source explained the team stands behind coach King.
The forfeits see the Rustlers tied for first with The King’s University of Edmonton Thunder in the ACAC North standings. Both teams have an 8-2 record for 16 points. The losses also have provincial hosting implications with first place on the line.
A Lakeland College official contacted the Meridian Source on Dec. 4 indicating a potentially quick resolution, but was unable to confirm any details.
Read more: Rustlers women’s vball still undefeated
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