Wayzata had nothing left to prove when the 2023 season concluded late Saturday night, Nov. 11 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. The top-seeded Trojans, ranked anywhere from No. 5 to No. 11 nationally depending on the poll, completed a season of dominance with a 25-20, 25-23, 26-24 victory over No. 2 New Prague in a riveting Class AAAA championship match that was a final display of powerful play from elite-level players.
University of Minnesota recruit Olivia Swenson, a senior outside hitter, led a balanced attack with 14 kills and junior middle hitter Katie Kelzenberg added 10. Senior setter Stella Swenson, Olivia’s twin sister and fellow Gophers recruit, ran the show with 32 assists.
It was Wayzata’s fourth consecutive big-school state championship, the first school to do so since Robbinsdale Armstrong won a streak of five from 1980-1984. In Wayzata’s 34 victories without a loss this season, the Trojans lost just three sets, the last time on Sept. 26 to Champlin Park. But New Prague (27-6), playing its first season in Class AAAA, was not intimidated by Wayzata’s lofty status. New Prague pushed Wayzata, as the scores indicate, with impressive play of its own.
Senior right side hitter Avery Klein had 12 kills and senior setter Annalise Wilson had 25 assists. New Prague, which scored the first point of the match, made Wayzata work for everything in pushing the four-time champions.
