Rustlers Recap 2026: Women's Basketball

Record:

Regular season: The Rustlers went 2-18, finishing 6th in the North Division.

Team Awards:

Top Defensive Player: Taylor Hebert

Most Improved: Sadie Spenrath

Rustler Award: Declynn Wood

MVP: Reese Fenrich

Graduating Athletes:

None. Seven members of this past season's team will return for the 2026-2027 season, with several new additions.

Year in Review:

Despite many tough moments, the Rustlers women's basketball team showed tremendous growth this season.

Heading into the fall with a new coaching staff, new roster and no veterans, the team was quickly baptized into ACAC league play. By the mid-point of the first semester, they began to have close contests and by the second semester, there were flashes of a team that could compete with the best in the division. Declynn Wood's transfer at Christmas helped give the roster more scoring and toughness and post Reese Fenrich quickly became a workhorse, finishing among the league leaders in minutes and rebounds.

In the final two games of the season, the Rustlers faced another winless team in the NWP Wolves, sweeping the road trip to finish the year on a high.

"Proud of the group of young athletes who were resilient during a year where they were essentially a high school team playing in a college league," Head coach Todd Warnick said.

"The kids learned how to battle. GP is never an easy road trip, regardless of how strong they are, so to go up and get a sweep, that's a testament to their growth."

Recently, the program held it's spring ID Camp, which had almost 30 athletes in attendance. Several promising recruits have signed for the next season, including sisters Chelsea and Sadie Neilson from Victoria BC.

Warnick was pleased with the turnout, as well as the efforts from the returning players and additions, who look like they will fit together well.

"It was nice to kind of see the kids who we recruited validate the reasons we had offered them spots," he said.

"I'm very excited about our length and additional power we added. The twins from Victoria can stretch the floor and the posts are also kids who can contribute right away."

The team returns at the end of August to prepare for the upcoming season.