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.聽
The Trojans started the season strong, beating their two biggest Lake Conference rivals, Edina, the reigning state champion, and Minnetonka.
鈥淲e have a great senior class,鈥� Wayzata coach Dominic Duenas said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e 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.鈥�
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.
鈥淎ll the players of the past have helped build the tradition that we have at the program,鈥� Duenas said. 鈥淭hey wanted to try to maintain that tradition and get us back to the state tournament if there is a state tournament.鈥�
They have been living up to this tradition as Wayzata enters the halfway mark of its 蝉别补蝉辞苍.听听
鈥淚鈥檓 definitely proud of our players,鈥� Duenas said. Obviously it鈥檚 a big change this year with COVID. Their energy and focus has been fantastic.鈥�
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, 鈥榃hat do you think they would do to have that season back?鈥�
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.
鈥淚f 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,鈥� Duenas said. 鈥淚f there is no postseason then everything is riding on winning the Lake Conference championship.鈥�
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.
鈥淎 normal year it鈥檚 really competitive, but this I think it鈥檚 just up another notch,鈥� Duenas said. 鈥淭here is definitely an added increase in intensity.鈥�
The Trojans welcome the challenge as do the other Lake Conference teams, but above all else, they are thankful for the season.
鈥淗opefully 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鈥檙e allowed to get the season they鈥檝e given us,鈥� Duenas said.
