The Lakeland Rustlers are gearing up for their first annual alumni weekend.
“We’ve seen it done in a few institutions,” King said. “Places like [Medicine] Hat [host] all their athletics alumni on the same weekend, and it creates a really good culture, keeps their former athletes coming back, supporting the program, and really, rekindling the friendships and relationships that are made within the community, so I’m excited to see that grow.”
King also says that he hopes the event will become an annual tradition.
“We’re just hoping to build on a base,” he said. “Most of our athletes that come through Lakeland talk about how much they loved their time, how much they loved being a Rustler, so we’re trying to build on that past experience that they had and kind of get them back on campus… and see where our athletics [program is at now, because our athletics department has grown so much in the past 5 to 10 years. I think it will be really neat for some of our past alumni to see kind of where we’re at now, on the national stage.”
The weekend starts tomorrow evening, and will feature alumni games, and the soccer team’s home opener on Saturday and Sunday.
Alumni games are open to the public, and will be taking place in Lakeland’s gym on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.