Wayzata.com

Widespread fighting, reports of shots fired at Target Center during the 4A Championship Game

March 28th, 2023

Unconfirmed reports of shots being fired as well as large / multiple fights that occurred during and after halftime of the MSHSL 4A Championship left attendees of the game rattled on Saturday night. Amy Parnell, the spokesperson for Wayzata Public Schools indicated via email no Wayzata students were directly involved in the altercations.

See also: Wayzata wins Class 4A State Championship over Park Center 75-71 in overtime.

New video and reports raise questions about how many sections of the Target Center concourse were impacted by fighting, how many people it affected, and what security measures were in place by the MSHSL and it’s vendors. This new video has been provided to Wayzata.com; it reportedly has been widely circulated within the Wayzata student population.

Submitted video provided to Wayzata.com of the incident.

This WCCO story shows two fights that occurred, one in the concourse reportedly in section 121 and another outside as fans exited Target Center. Other eyewitness reports reported fighting near sections 131 and 138, raising questions if the fight involved half of the Target Center concourse.

Minneapolis Police responded to possible shots fired at 8:53pm, approximately halftime of the game between Park Center and Wayzata:

At approximately 08:53, MPD received a report of possible shots fired inside the #TargetCenter.

MPD, Hennepin County Sheriff, State Patrol, and EMS responded.

MPD worked with security and confirmed no shots were fired. The presence of a gun has not been confirmed.
— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) March 26, 2023

Crime Watch Minneapolis reports the fight is located in section 121 of Target Center.

Police clearing Target Center from the top down.

Another officer reporting nothing out of the ordinary in the main stadium. Activity appears isolated to a hallway.

Report of large fight in sec 121.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) March 26, 2023

Your publisher sitting in section 131 saw evidence of the fight spilling into his section, which appears to be 6 sections away from 121:

From our vantage point in section 131, dozens upon doznes of students in attendance were observed panicking and fleeing down the concourse, diving into bathrooms for refuge in response to an individual or individuals screaming that shots had been fired. https://t.co/BVlzVBUPS3
— Daniel Gustafson (@DanielGustafson) March 26, 2023

I was there. No gunshots just mass chaos on the concourse. Made me spill my cheese curds. Glad they gave me another. Saw a family kids crying. Saw people coming out of back hallways. Then they started running the other direction. Someone spilled their drink on me. 😂 no gunshots
— Lyndsey (@CoachLyndsey7) March 26, 2023

Sorry this happened to them. It is a horrifying video. It is supposed to be fun to be at these games. Now rules will be imposed that have nothing to do with kids who would never behave this way. The video looked like Attempted Murder. Stomping someone in the head.
— Oheythere56 🛶🍷🚴🏻‍♀️🏕 (@Oheythere56) March 27, 2023

Wayzata Public Schools spokes person Amy Parnell indicted via email that “no Wayzata students were involved in the altercation.”

Stay tuned to Wayzata.com on this evolving story.
Wayzata wins Class 4A State Championship over Park Center 75-71 in overtime

March 25th, 2023

@MSHSL

One thing was certain even before the tip to start the Class AAAA Boys Basketball Championship Game between top-seeded Park Center and No. 3 Wayzata late Saturday, March 25 at Target Center: One team was going to win a second big-school title within the past three seasons. Through the ebbs and flows that come with championship-level basketball, it was too close to call as the margin between the two powers was razor thin.

One team would build a lead, but it was short-lived. Trading leads was the norm during a Championship Saturday when close title games spanned the day.

Things were so tight in the Class AAAA championship game that bonus basketball was required. That’s when Wayzata made its move.

Junior post Jackson McAndrew scored eight of the Trojans’ nine points in overtime to send Wayzata to a 75-71 victory over Park Center in the final game of the five-day Minnesota State High School League Boys Basketball State Tournament at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. The Trojans’ victory was two-fold: In dethroning the Pirates, it brought a measure of revenge for losing to Park Center in the Class AAAA championship game in 2022. It also sent the Trojans back to the winners circle for the first time since winning it all in 2021. Prior to that, Wayzata’s only boys basketball championship game in 1959 when there was a one-class state tournament format.

After not being able to determine a winner over 36 minutes of regulation time, the teams were tied at 66-all.

McAndrew set the tone for the Trojans (27-4) with the first points of the overtime, which resulted in a three-point play. Just more than a minute later, he had a jaw-dropping dribble drive that began at midcourt and finished with a reverse layup. Later, a single free throw by senior guard Hayden Tibbits with 34.7 seconds remaining gave Wayzata the 75-71 advantage.

McAndrew finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Tibbits, Wayzata’s spark plug on both sides of the court, had 18 points and five assists.

Senior guard CJ O’Hara was a major force for the Pirates (28-3) with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in the game that was played at a frenetic pace. Junior guard Casmir Chavis added 16 points and four assists.

From MSHSL staff.
Wayzata Boys Basketball advances to 4A State Championship with 79-77 win over Lakeville North

March 24th, 2023

Wayzata, the No. 3 seed in the Class AAAA field, escaped adversity and then turned it into euphoria in posting an exhausting 79-77 victory over No. 2 Lakeville North in the semifinals of the Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Basketball State Tournament late Thursday, March 23 at Target Center.

Shortly after surrendering a 20-point lead to Lakeville North, Wayzata put itself into position to make a third consecutive trip to the big-school championship game. And it was senior guard Hayden Tibbits, a crafty playmaker throughout, that delivered the final blow. With the Trojans (26-4) working the clock on their final possession, Tibbits took control from the top of the NBA arc and weaved his way into the lane before launching a soft floating jumper from the elbow with 1.1 second left in regulation to give Wayzata another shot at Park Center for a Class AAAA championship.

After winning the Class AAAA crown in 2021, Wayzata was the runner-up to Park Center a year later. In the earlier semifinal, top-seeded Park Center advanced with a narrow victory over No. 5 Eastview.

Jackson McAndrew, a 6-foot-9 junior, had a team-best 28 points and eight rebounds. Tibbits finished with 24.

Lakeville North (27-4), which defeated Wayzata during the regular season, trailed by 20 points with 15 minutes to go in regulation. The Panthers defended well and shot their way back into the game at a dizzying pace, but committed a costly turnover with 1:07 remaining in regulation time. Senior guard Hudson Vaith and senior post Nolan Winter had 24 points each.

Verbatim from MSHSL staff.
Wayzata Boys Basketball takes on White Bear Lake at 4pm

March 21st, 2023
Providence Academy Wins State Class AA Girls Basketball Title Again

March 21st, 2023

Providence Academy staked its claim to being the best girls basketball team during the 2022-23 season, regardless of enrollment size. That proclamation gained the muster needed after the Lions completed a run of dominance that culminated with their second consecutive Minnesota State High School League Class AA championship.

The top-seeded Lions turned away an early upset bid with a second half of dominance that paved the way to a 74-60 victory over No. 3 Albany in the Class AA title game. Providence Academy (30-2) finished the season on a 29-game winning streak. Freshman guard Maddyn Greenway was the typical spark plug for the Lions with 31 points, five rebounds and four assists to help Providence Academy become the first back-to-back Class AA champions since 2014 when New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva won the second of two consecutive crowns.

Providence Academy’s only two losses this season were to Bishop Garrigan (Iowa) on Nov. 26 and then Becker on Dec. 3. The Lions reversed that result against Becker on Jan. 5. Becker was the top seed in the Class AAA field for this season’s state tournament. Two days later, Providence Academy defeated Mountain Iron-Buhl. Mountain Iron-Buhl would become the No. 1 seed in the Class A field and win their first championship two hours prior to Providence Academy’s victory over Albany. And in late January, Providence Academy defeated Hopkins, who is the top seed in Class AAAA and playing for its second championship in a row later Saturday night.

Providence Academy opened the second half with an 8-0 run to turn a one-point deficit at the break into a 40-33 lead with 14 minutes remaining in regulation. Sophomore forward Hope Counts pushed the advantage to 45-35 with 13:41 left by converting a three-point play. Moments later, the lead grew to 47-35 after a steal and fastbreak layup by Greenway.

The lead would remain in double digits after Greenway made a layup with 10:19 remaining in regulation time that pushed the Lions; lead to 53-42. Less than a minute remaining, it would become 56-42 after a power layup from eighth-grade guard Emma Millerbernd following a nice feed from Greenway. Millerbernd finished with 12 points and five rebounds.

Albany wasn’t intimidated by Providence Academy’s up-tempo attack that feasts on open-court play. The Huskies matched that with height and physicality, and sprinkled in some finesse of its own in taking a 33-32 lead into the break. Junior guard Savanna Pelzer gave the Huskies that lead by making two free throws with 45.8 seconds left in the back-and-forth first half.

Junior forward Alyssa Sand paced the Huskies in the first half with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Tatum Findley, who played a late starring role in Albany’s semifinal victory over Goodhue, had 11 points in the first half.

Greenway paced Providence Academy in the first half with 16 points.

Sand finished with 29 points and 21 rebounds for the Huskies (30-2). Albany, the Class AA champion in 2021, was attempting to become the second No. 3 seed to win a championship. Minnehaha Academy accomplished the feat in 2019.
Wayzata Boys Basketball Rallies to Beat DeLaSalle

March 2nd, 2023

“The Wayzata boys’ basketball team rallied late in the second half and beat DeLaSalle Tuesday night 64-61. The Trojans outscored the Islanders 11-2 in the game’s final four and a half minutes. Wayzata (20-4), ranked 3rd in Class 4A, was led in scoring by Hayden Tibbits who netted 22 points. Jackson McAndrew and Jake Schmitt added 12 apiece; Schmidt’s three-pointer with under a minute to play broke a 59-all tie and gave the Trojans the lead for good. Nasir Whitlock of DeLaSalle led all players in scoring with 31 points. The Islanders, ranked 3rd in Class 3A, falls to 21-5 in their regular season finale. The Trojans finish their regular season Friday at 13th-ranked Buffalo.”The Wayzata boys’ basketball team rallied late in the second half and beat DeLaSalle Tuesday night 64-61. The Trojans outscored the Islanders 11-2 in the game’s final four and a half minutes. Wayzata (20-4), ranked 3rd in Class 4A, was led in scoring by Hayden Tibbits who netted 22 points. Jackson McAndrew and Jake Schmitt added 12 apiece; Schmidt’s three-pointer with under a minute to play broke a 59-all tie and gave the Trojans the lead for good. Nasir Whitlock of DeLaSalle led all players in scoring with 31 points. The Islanders, ranked 3rd in Class 3A, falls to 21-5 in their regular season finale. The Trojans finish their regular season Friday at 13th-ranked Buffalo.” From CCX Media.
Ongoing budget shortfall at Wayzata Schools forces district to reduce costs

February 27th, 2023
- District seeks $7 million or 3.5% General Fund budget reduction in 2023-24 school year; and $2.5 million or 1.0% reduction in 2024-25 school year
In the face of ongoing budget woes, the Wayzata School District is faced with some difficult decisions. Funding from the State of Minnesota has not kept pace with inflation for several decades among other issues, according to school officials and committees charged with studying the funding shortfall.

These changes will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the district and its students, leaving many parents and educators worried about what the future holds. As the budget comes into sharper view, the district must weigh the consequences of each decision, knowing that the choices they make will have far-reaching implications for the community.

Superintendent Chace Anderson identified three main drivers causing issues for the districts budget woes in a press release:
- The on-going financial impact caused by the pandemic, including decreased student enrollment in the 2020-21 school year.
- The fact that state funding for education has not kept pace with inflation for several decades. To emphasize this point, the general education per pupil funding formula increased by only 2% for the current fiscal year. Special education has also been underfunded for decades.
- Additional inflationary pressures for some operational functions impacting the district, such as the transportation budget increasing by about 13% in the current fiscal year.
According to the information provided, staffing salaries and benefits of personnel across many different employee groups are the largest expenditure the district faces.

2023-24-Cost-Containment-Process-Summary Download

To ensure that staff affected by these reductions are personally notified, program-specific and other identifying information is being withheld from the details at this time.

2023-24-Cost-Containment-Process-Details-1 Download

School officials encourage stakeholders to contact their elected representatives in order to advocate for the district to benefit from these actions:
- Support school districts by increasing the education funding formula with no new mandated expenditures attached to the new funding;
- Fully fund the special education cross subsidy; and
- Develop a long-term system that can consistently address inflationary pressures.
Residents can find their elected officials by visiting the Legislator webpage at the School District website.
Wayzata Wrestling falls to top-ranked STMA in Section 5AAA Final

February 24th, 2023

“For the fifth straight year the Wayzata wrestling team advanced to the Section 5AAA team final to face power St. Michael-Albertville. The top-ranked Knights beat Wayzata 46-15 to advance to state for the 25th consecutive season. After the teams split the first four matches, the Knights won five straight from 132 pounds through 160 to build a 35-6 lead. Wayzata won three straight matches from 170 through 195 but it was too little too late as STMA will head back to the Xcel Energy Center to defend their state class AAA title.” From CCX Sports.
#3 ranked Wayzata Girls Basketball defeats #1 Hopkins Royals 55-53

February 11th, 2023

#3 ranked Wayzata Girls Basketball (18-2) defeats #1 Hopkins Royals (18-2) 55-53 at home. With just seconds left Abby Krzewinski dribbles the length of the floor and draws the foul; she stepped to the line and sank two free throws with .08 left to clinch the victory for the Wayzata Trojans. The rest of the team gets a stop and the bench erupts with excitement and enthusiasm from the hard fought win.

Brynn Senden scored 19 points, Sophie Hawkinson had 11 points, Shannon Fornshell had 9, Kate Amelotte & Grace Weber had 4 points each, and Jessica Oberlander had 2 points.

For Hopkins, Nu Nu Agara had 19 points, Taylor Woodson had 13, Liv McGill had 8, Erma Walker and Kelly Boyle had 4 points each, and London Harris had 3 points.

The last time Wayzata beat Hopkins was in the 2018-2019 season. The teams will likely meet again in Section play in the coming weeks.
Kumar wins 2022 DECA Emerging Leader Award

February 10th, 2023

Congratulations to Wayzata High School senior Pratishtha Praveen Kumar, who was named the recipient of the 2022 DECA Emerging Leader Honor Award!

This award is given to students who are pursuing studies in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

Other factors that impact the award include recognize those students who have demonstrated exceptional academic preparedness, community involvement, professional responsibility, and leadership through their involvement in DECA.

DECA is a career and technical student organization that brings together over 150,000 students with an interest in careers in marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality, and management.