Rustlers Recap 2026: Curling

Record:

Men: 4-6, missing the playoffs by one win.

Women: 8-4, placing them second heading into the postseason.

Mixed: 5-4, placing them third going into the postseason.

Major wins:

ACAC Bronze: The mixed team finished in a three-way tie in the round robin of the ACAC Championship, which gave them an extra pathway to the final. After losing two close games, they bounced back to win bronze.

All-Stars:

All-Conference Selections: Rachel Wilson (Mixed), Cira Hozack (Women's), Kali Johnson (Women's)

Team Awards:

Rookie of the Year: Rachel Wilson

Most Improved: Kade Eyolfson

Rustler Award: Kali Johnson

MVP: Dylan Frey

Graduating Athletes:

Five: Johnson, Frey, Hozack, women's skip Anika Meittinen and men's skip Rylan Butuk all depart the program.

Year in Review:

Rustlers curling didn't hit all of their competitive goals, but still had a solid 2025-2026 campaign.

"What a season!" Coach Lindsey Bertsch said. "We experienced excitement and heartbreak across three teams." 

The three teams came out of the Fall Regional with playoff potential, with the women's and mixed teams qualifying after solid performances at the Winter Regional. While the women had a tough round robin at the ACAC Championship, the mixed team and their best showing, enroute to a bronze medal. This was the fourth medal in five years for Rustlers mixed curling, after they won three straight gold medals from 2022-2024.

Bertsch said the coaching staff are proud of the work their players put in and the buy-in they received for being a part of the Rustler family.

"What stands out to me the most about these athletes is regardless of their individual team accomplishments, the greater Lakeland College Rustler team always took priority," she said.

"This is a special group of athletes that encompassed teamwork; putting the whole above the individual."

The program will have another reset, losing their skips in Frey (this year's curling MVP), Meittinen and Butuk. However, Bertsch said she's confident in their base heading into next year.

"With five of our players graduating or moving on to further their education, we look forward to the leadership of our returning players.  We hope to welcome a new crew of rookie curlers in September!"