The Lakeland Rustlers will not be playing during the winter 2021 season.
In a release sent out to colleges by post-secondary institution presidents on Tuesday, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) teams were informed they will not be returning to play.
Lloydminster and Vermilion Lakeland College student-athletes are on standby while schools look at possible ways to kickstart their seasons.
“While this athletic season is unlike any other for our Rustlers, our athletics team will continue to train and evaluate ways to compete safely in exhibition games and other competitive opportunities next semester,” said Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College.
Lakeland has over 100 student-athletes participating in curling, volleyball, basketball, futsal, rowing, and soccer.
The Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association suspended the fall rodeo season while the cross-country running season was cancelled.
“The season isn’t over for our Rustlers,” says Dr. Wainwright-Stewart. “Training will continue for our student-athletes and more conversations are to come with our athletics team as we work on creative opportunities outside of the ACAC for our students to compete.”
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the 2020 fall seasons had been cancelled.
The ACAC decided to make this years’ season void allowing athletes to have an extra year of eligibility.
Lakeland’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines are available at lakelandcollege.ca/covid19.