Although they still have homework left to do this college season, the Lakeland Rustlers took a recess last Saturday to recognize their three seniors from the celebrated women’s volleyball program.
Read more: Lakeland College men hunt for post-season play
All three of them are education students and starters with the three-time reigning ACAC and national-champion Rustlers.
After sweeping the Northwestern Wolves of Grande Prairie in consecutive matches last weekend, the Lakeland girls wiped away tears Saturday afternoon as they were showered with gifts and hugged family members during an emotional ceremony in front of a good-sized crowd in the Rustlers’ home gym.
TRUMIER: ‘A HARD-WORKING GROUP’
“It was really nice to celebrate with everyone,” said Seanna Trumier, who was honoured along with fellow senior players Avery Bates and Emma Jeffs.
“And the team coming together, I feel it really shows the true meaning behind our Rustler logo. It was awesome to celebrate.”
Personally, and team-wise, Trumier considers the senior group to be most fortunate to have been part of a program that has set the standard not only in the ACAC, but the entire Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.
“We’ve been very lucky to come on the team when we did,” said Trumier, a graduate of St. Mary High School in Prince Albert, Sask.
“We joined a very hard-working group of athletes. We’ve been lucky, but we also worked our way to the top. And to be able to maintain that and stay there for three years has definitely been a testament to how hard we’ve worked.”
Trumier found her way to Lakeland even though the COVID-19 pandemic had wiped out her Grade 12 season in Prince Albert.
Although other potential recruits didn’t return to the court, she couldn’t have imagined not playing volleyball at the post-secondary level.
“I don’t think there was ever any doubt,” she said with a smile. “I was still trying to play when we could. We created a random club team in P.A. and worked hard in the gym to come back even better than I was before COVID.”
In becoming part of Lakeland athletics, she joined a Rustlers collegiate program that includes her aptly named cousin, Ian Cousin of Huey, Sask., with the men’s volleyball team. At least a dozen family members showed up in Lloydminster on Saturday to help Trumier mark seniors’ day on the Lakeland campus.
Trumier has played libero for most of her five years with the Rustlers, who are making a late push for a playoff berth in the Alberta conference.
Beginning next year, she’ll step into another position as an elementary school teacher in Saskatoon. She graduates this spring with two degrees — education and general studies.
JEFFS: ASPIRES TO TEACH, COACH
In similar fashion, Jeffs is headed back to her hometown of Peace River, Alta., hopefully to teach school, coach volleyball and get married. Her fiancé and her parents made the seven-plus-hour drive to Lloyd from Peace River for Saturday’s ceremony.
“I hope to teach middle school, so then I’ll probably coach the junior high and I plan to coach club volleyball, too,” Jeffs said. “I also want to start little volleyball sessions throughout the week that everyone can come to, just to build the volleyball community in Peace River. It’s not very strong.”
Jeffs, who plays middle, developed into one of Lakeland’s strongest players. But it’s not necessarily the championship banners and personal statistics that she’ll remember most from her years at Lakeland.
“Honestly, it’s just the friendships I’ve made,” she said. “I’m going to stay in touch with these girls until I’m done.
“It’s taught me that I need to work for what I want, with people that are going to push you to be better.”
A few years ago, Jeffs wasn’t sure whether she would gain that opportunity to play ACAC volleyball.
“Originally, I was just coming here to do the university transfer (studies) to become a teacher,” she said. “Then, I got recruited last minute to come play on the team, and then I just stayed here for five years.
“I didn’t want to go to a big city first, just because I’m from a small town.”
Via a partnership between Lakeland and the University of Calgary, Jeffs took all of her education classes online, “so that’s pretty nice,” she said.
She plans to marry in 2027. Her fiancé, Mason Lavoie, plays senior hockey in northern Alberta with the Falher Pirates, just as he did with the Dewberry Mustangs four years ago while he was a student at Lakeland’s Vermilion campus.
BATES: EYES PRO CAREER IN EUROPE
Singled out for her outstanding play on the court over her five years as a starter, Bates highlighted her relationships off the court as some of the most memorable parts of her Lakeland chapter. In particular, she developed a special connection with two young fans — Miller, 4, and Elle, 7 — the daughters of Rustlers’ coach Austin Dyer.
“Yeah, spending the summer with them was probably one of the best summers I’ve ever had,” said Bates, 23. “I have a little sister, but she’s 17 now, so it’s definitely not the same as having, like, a five- and a three-year-old. So, it was quite cool.”
Bates, whose roots are in Acme, Alta., was playing in a high school volleyball tournament in the small southern Alberta community of Rosemary when she was scouted to play with the Rustlers.
“I was approached by a guy after a game, and he knew Austin and told me to reach out,” she said. “So, I did. I came over for a visit and absolutely loved it. A month later, I emailed him back, saying, ‘Hey, can I sign, or are you still looking for someone?’
“He said yeah, so it was awesome. It was definitely a hell of a career.”
The Rustlers still have a shot at post-play in a season that, for them, essentially didn’t begin until the new year. Either way, Bates has yearbooks’ worth of memories from her Lakeland run.
“Honestly, just all the relationships that I’ve built,” she said. “I’m still talking to people from my first year, up until now, and I know I’ll continue to make the connections into next year. I’ll still be talking to everyone.
“Just the friendships. Who knows — maybe I found my maid of honour, one day.”
A record-setting right-side, Bates isn’t ready to leave Lakeland just yet. Although her collegiate eligibility will be finished, she plans to return next year and practise with the Rustlers, while finishing her education studies.
“After that, I hope to go and play pro in Europe.”
Fittingly for a team that had much to celebrate over the past three years, balloons, streamers, paper rings, garlands and tassels decorated the Rustlers’ hallways and dressing room Saturday.
“It’s pretty cool in there,” said Bates, whose brother, sister and parents witnessed all the senior-day hoopla.
“It’s awesome. This is the first time my brother has ever been here, so getting my entire family up here (to Lloyd) has been awesome, and then seeing everyone else’s families, it’s very heartwarming.”
Read more: Rustlers to host ACAC men’s hoops playoffs
