Griak is one of the biggest meets of the season, with a longstanding tradition in Minnesota of drawing runners from all over the country. It’s a great preview for teams and individuals to see their competition for upcoming meets like Nike Regionals. This year was the first time in the 40 years of the meet, that the venue changed to Fort Snelling Golf Course. Unlike Les Bolstad, it’s previous location known for being tough and hilly, the new course handed out a ton of PR’s. In fact, all 9 finishing runners from Wayzata ran their personal best times, virtually unheard of in mid-September. 

Wayzata girls locked in, and finished 3rd overall, 2nd of the Minnesota teams, just behind Edina. The 2 teams have been battling for the top seed in the State all season. They’ll face each other come Lake Conference Championship and Sections in October. Both teams are young and looking to finish as the best in Minnesota. 

Faith Sundet and Sienna Blomberg both came in at 18:04 and 18:05, finishing 21st and 23rd in the Championship race. Naoko Neitz bettered her time from last week by over 2 minutes at 18:48. Adele Stark had a huge race with an 18:52 and Brianna Ledman had over a minute and a half drop with at 19:02, finishing 67th overall. And the Trojans didn’t let up. Cody Riddering, Eve Lofgren, Laney Granberg, and Olivia Cahill rounded out the team, all going sub 20. The depth that Wayzata continues to have is unreal, and they continue to get better and better.  

Last week, according to Dyestat.com early season outlooks have Wayzata ranked 23rd in the country, and expected to only move up from here after this week’s showing at Griak. 

Across the Twin Cities, JV competed in the Mustang Invitational and also placed top 5 in all of the heats, including the up and coming Wayzata Middle School team. In the Green race, Kingsley Loso, Grace Marley, and Ava Doherty placed in the top 10 and led the team to a win with 37 points. In the Silver race, Zeilyn Rico, and Maxine Truelson placed in the top 20. In the Gold race, Haidyn Lambert finished 8th with a time of 23:53. Middle School raced 3,200 Meters and took the top 4 spots with Catherine Williams, Emily Nelson, Paige Larson, and Edyn Holland sweeping the podium.

The Trojans have 2 more races including The Metro Invitational and then head to Iowa before launching into post season competition.

Ares Amani scored twice in a three-minute span in the second half as the Wayzata boys soccer team rallied to beat Edina 2-1.

The Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when Desmond Quigley scored on a rebound.

Amani tied the match in the 59th minute and scored again in the 62nd to put Wayzata ahead.

Senior goalkeeper Lucas Woodrum made several key saves in the closing minutes to preserve the win.

Wayzata and Edina entered the match undefeated and ranked first and second in Class AAA. The Trojans improved to 6-0-0.

The Wayzata girls soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday, falling 2-1 to rival Edina.

Edina took a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the first half when Mikaela Caverly intercepted an errant Wayzata pass and set up Grace Gady for the goal.

Wayzata tied the match midway through the second half. Etta Foster sent in a corner kick that was deflected into the net by Morgan Bryant.

The Hornets scored the game-winner with two minutes remaining. Gady’s corner kick was knocked off the crossbar before Ainsley Graves headed in the rebound.

Wayzata and Edina are both 5-1.

Watch the CCX Sports highlights above.

Memorial along Lake Street honors Wayzata native Gordy Aamoth Jr., victims and first responders

WAYZATA, Minn. — Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Wayzata’s 9/11 Memorial at Panoway on Wayzata Bay continues to provide a place for the community to remember those who were lost.

Located near Broadway and Lake Street, the memorial honors the victims, survivors and first responders of 9/11, with a special connection to Wayzata native Gordon “Gordy” Aamoth Jr., who was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center. 

Aamoth was working on the 104th floor of the South Tower when the building was struck and later collapsed. His family worked with the community to ensure the Wayzata memorial would recognize not only Gordy, but all those affected by the attacks. 

The memorial was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2021, marking the 20th anniversary of the attacks. Its design includes a grove of nine paper birch trees and two long granite elements intended to evoke both the number 11 and the silhouette of the Twin Towers. 

The memorial also incorporates artifacts connected to the World Trade Center and was designed as a quiet place where visitors can sit, look toward Lake Minnetonka and reflect. 

The documentary below tells the story of the memorial and Minnesotans whose lives were directly touched by Sept. 11.

The memorial stands within the Birch Grove at Panoway, just east of Broadway Plaza.