WAYZATA — A night that began with celebration for Wayzata High School’s Class of 2025 ended under a shadow of concern, following disruptions during the ceremony and a violent incident outside 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Wayzata High School Principal Scott Gengler addressed the community in a letter Monday, offering both congratulations to graduates and a candid response to the events that unsettled an otherwise meaningful evening.
“It was truly a joy to watch our graduates cross the stage,” Gengler wrote, “but I would be remiss if I did not address the concerns regarding disruptions caused by some students’ family members and guests… as well as the deeply unsettling incident that occurred outside the arena afterward.”
Gengler confirmed that one of the two individuals injured in the post-ceremony shooting was a parent of a Wayzata graduate. That individual has since been released from the hospital and is recovering. At this time, authorities have not confirmed any connection between the individuals involved in the incident and the graduation event itself. The University of Minnesota Police Department is leading the investigation.
This year marked Gengler’s 30th consecutive high school graduation as an educator and his 24th as a principal. He noted that the last two Wayzata graduations have presented “significant challenges,” mirroring a regional trend of rising disruptions at large-scale commencement ceremonies.
Despite proactive measures—including increased staffing and repeated messaging about expected conduct—some guests chose not to follow decorum guidelines. “This was deeply disappointing,” Gengler said, “especially for the many families who came to celebrate this important milestone with pride and joy.”
Gengler emphasized that the disruptive behavior came not from students, who he praised for their respectful conduct, but from a “small number of family members and/or guests.”
In response, the school is considering new safety and logistical changes for future ceremonies. Among them: reevaluating the venue’s size and security capacity, and for the first time, potentially capping the number of tickets per graduate to limit crowd size and help preserve the integrity of the event.
“These changes are not easy,” Gengler wrote, “but we believe they are essential to preserving the respectful and celebratory atmosphere our students and families deserve.”
Despite the difficulties, the principal ended his letter with gratitude and optimism.
“Together, we will keep working to ensure that Wayzata High School remains a place of academic excellence, where we take pride in all that we do, and where we share and celebrate each other’s successes.”
