Wayzata soccer is poised for a conference championship
PLYMOUTH, Minn. (BVM) — In a normal year, the No. 1–ranked Wayzata High School boys soccer team would be talking about another state championship run.
The Trojans started the season strong, beating their two biggest Lake Conference rivals, Edina, the reigning state champion, and Minnetonka.
“We have a great senior class,” Wayzata coach Dominic Duenas said. “They’ve done a great job being leaders on and off the field. It was definitely important to them to come in and start strong this year based on how we ended last year.”
The Trojans ended last season with an uncharacteristically early exit for a team that has made it to four state championships in the last 13 years.
“All the players of the past have helped build the tradition that we have at the program,” Duenas said. “They wanted to try to maintain that tradition and get us back to the state tournament if there is a state tournament.”
They have been living up to this tradition as Wayzata enters the halfway mark of its season.
“I’m definitely proud of our players,” Duenas said. Obviously it’s a big change this year with COVID. Their energy and focus has been fantastic.”
COVID has had a large effect on their season, but it has also helped to raise their intensity.
Early in the season and preseason, Duenas and the coaching staff began asking the team if they knew any seniors who had lost their spring season to COVID. When the boys said yes, their coaches would then ask, ‘What do you think they would do to have that season back?’
It has made the Trojans appreciate the opportunity they have. The team has strictly followed protocols, not taken risks and gone above and beyond to succeed this season.
Another factor in the added intensity from Wayzata is the changes to the schedule due to COVID-19. The season is only 12 games long this year and the postseason is not guaranteed to happen, which makes each game matter so much more.
“If there is no state tournament, if there are no section tournaments, then this is it, so you definitely want to be the Lake Conference champ this year above all other years,” Duenas said. “If there is no postseason then everything is riding on winning the Lake Conference championship.”
The Lake Conference is competitive on a regular basis with multiple teams vying for state championships each year. With no guarantee of a postseason and the schedule being limited this season, the intensity in each game has been off the charts.
“A normal year it’s really competitive, but this I think it’s just up another notch,” Duenas said. “There is definitely an added increase in intensity.”
The Trojans welcome the challenge as do the other Lake Conference teams, but above all else, they are thankful for the season.
“Hopefully there is some type of postseason and we can be a part of it, but if not, we understand and we feel fortunate that we’re allowed to get the season they’ve given us,” Duenas said.
