Rustlers win national gold at home
It was the fairy-tale ending everyone was gunning for, and the entire community showed up to watch it all happen.
For the first time in program history, the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s basketball team are national champions after defeating the Lambton Lions 64-55 in an absolute nail-biter of a gold-medal game, and it all went down in the Lakeland gym.
“I have so many feelings; I don’t really have many words,” said fifth-year guard Hailey Somers right after the win.
“I don’t think you could write a more perfect story (to describe) how our last couple years here have gone … I’m so proud of everything and everyone.”
The Rustlers’ first shot at a national title came in 2020, which was quickly taken away when the CCAA cancelled the tournament due to COVID.
The team’s second shot came in 2022 when they won bronze, but for head coach, Chris King, the road to a national title has been even longer.
“In 2003, when I came here to play for Phil Allen (who passed away a few years ago), Phil’s goal the first year of basketball here at Lakeland was to win a national championship. Fast forward 20 years later, for us to win, at home, and to be coaching now instead of playing, is fantastic,” said a champagne-soaked King during post-win interviews with media, who wore the green, black and gold from 2002-2005.
“It felt special having it here because this was his dream. Being here when he started the program to now is just phenomenal.”
NATIONAL CHAMPS, AGAIN!

They never dreamed it was possible, but the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s volleyball team is back-to-back national champions.
The Rustlers, under the long-time direction of head coach Austin Dyer, headed to Red Deer last week as a favourite in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s volleyball championship after winning Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) gold in Lethbridge on Feb. 24.
“Honestly, it’s something I never dreamed would happen; it’s unbelievable what this group and this team has done over the past two seasons,” said Dyer on Monday afternoon.
“Other than losing a match each year, these are two of the most dominant seasons in CCAA history … it’s been an incredible thing to be a part of and we couldn’t be happier.”
Rescue squad banks on Rotary grant

The Lloydminster Rescue Squad hopes they’ve kicked off their fundraising campaign for a new 3/4 ton truck at the right time and place.
Rescue squad chief Norm Namur and deputy chief, Ryan Leblanc have their fingers crossed to land a $75,000 Legacy Community Project grant from the Rotary Club of Lloydminster with the application deadline on March 31.
“I just want to thank the Rotary Club for the Legacy project fund being open to the community again,” said Namur during an update at the club’s Monday lunch.
The rescue squad’s goal is to raise just over $100,000 to purchase a new Ford F-250 truck to tow some of their heavier boats.
That includes the Avatar airboat they purchased last year thanks to a $100,000 donation from Cenovus and their 22-ft. Kingfisher water rescue boat acquired in 2021.
“Our underwater rescue boat is a little bit big for the half-ton. We’re going to utilize it to tow those and also for a secondary rapid response vehicle,” explained Leblanc.
The fundraising goal will cover the cost of all the equipment that goes into the truck including the lighting and decals.
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