“For a fourth straight year, it’ll be Wayzata and Edina facing off in the Section 6AA boys hockey final. The Trojans are coming off a massive 5-2 upset over Rogers in the 6AA semifinals. The Royals were ranked first in the state in Class AA and hadn’t lost since early December. Edina and Wayzata split their regular season matchups with both teams winning at home. Puck drop for the Section 6AA final is at 6:00 PM on Wednesday night at Ridder Arena.” via CCX Media.
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A heavy snowfall swept across the north side of Wayzata High School last evening, softening the brick and glass under a steady swirl of white.
What stood out most wasn’t just the storm — it was the light. Dozens of windows glowed warmly against the dark sky, a bit of a surprise on a snowy night. Inside, the gyms were still humming with practices, the steady rhythm of winter sports carrying on despite the weather.
Outside, fresh drifts covered the lot in silence. Just another installment in our recurring series: Scene in Wayzata.
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Wayzata High School High Kick team. Submitted photo / Wayzata Trojet Dance Team Facebook page. The Wayzata High School High Kick team capped off an exceptional season by placing 3rd in the 2026 Class AAA State Tournament, adding to its résumé as Conference Champions and Section Champions.
Wayzata High School High Kick team. Submitted photo / Wayzata Trojet Dance Team Facebook page. Beyond the podium finish, the Trojans also demonstrated excellence in the classroom. The team received a Gold Team Academic Award from the Minnesota Association of Dance Team Coaches (@madtcoaches) for posting an impressive 3.84 cumulative GPA.
Four seniors earned Academic All-State honors, each maintaining a personal GPA above 3.85:
Katie Anderson, Libby Bruns, Makenna Pawlowski, and Ella Schlecht.
Wayzata High School High Kick team. Submitted photo / Wayzata Trojet Dance Team Facebook page. On the performance floor, seniors Katie Anderson and Makenna Pawlowski were inducted into the 2026 Class AAA High Kick All-Tournament Team, recognizing their standout contributions at state.
In Wayzata, championships matter — but so does character. This year’s High Kick team proved it can do both.
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The Wayzata Lions Club will host its annual community waffle breakfast event on Saturday, February 21, 2026, welcoming neighbors for a warm winter tradition that supports local needs.
The breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Church, located at 630 E. Wayzata Boulevard.
Tickets are $10 per person, with children five and under free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by contacting Pat Moran at (612) 799-7884.
All proceeds from the event remain in the Wayzata community and benefit local residents in need through the charitable work of the Wayzata Lions.
Event Details
- What: Wayzata Lions Waffle Breakfast
- When: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Time: 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Where: St. Bartholomew Church narthex, 630 E. Wayzata Blvd.
- Cost: $10; kids 5 & under free
- Tickets: At the door or in advance
- Contact: Pat Moran, (612) 799-7884
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WAYZATA — The City of Wayzata has announced three finalists in its search for the community’s next City Manager: Andrew Letson, Charlie Miner, and Aurora Yager.
The finalists were selected by the Wayzata City Council from a pool of five semi-finalists through an executive search conducted by MGT Impact Solutions.
Selecting a city manager is among the most consequential responsibilities of the council in Wayzata’s council-manager form of government. The city manager serves as the chief administrative officer, overseeing day-to-day operations, implementing council policy, managing staff, and guiding long-term financial and operational planning.
The three finalists bring varied public sector backgrounds spanning county administration, municipal leadership, law enforcement, and higher education.
Andrew Letson
Andrew Letson currently serves as County Administrator for Meeker County, Minnesota (population 23,400), where he oversees 215 employees and a $46 million budget.
Letson brings more than 15 years of experience in local government. Prior to his county role, he served as Public Works Director for the Village of Lincolnwood, Illinois.
He holds a Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration/Policy Analysis and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Letson also previously served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Charlie Miner
Charlie Miner currently serves as Mayor of Long Lake, Minnesota (population 1,900), and works as a Professional Services Specialist for Lexipol, a national provider of online policy manuals for government agencies.
Miner brings more than 30 years of public sector experience. He previously served as a police officer before advancing into progressive leadership roles at the University of Minnesota. As Deputy Chief of Police (Administration), he oversaw approximately 300 staff members and a $9 million budget.
Miner holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Law Enforcement from Minnesota State University–Mankato.
Aurora Yager
Aurora Yager currently serves as Interim City Manager for Wayzata (population 4,400), a role she assumed following the departure of former City Manager Jeff Dahl in July 2025. Yager has served as Wayzata’s Deputy City Manager since 2019, overseeing the Department of Administration.
Wayzata employs approximately 175 staff members and operates with a $23 million budget.
Yager brings 10 years of local government experience, previously serving as Assistant City Administrator for Howard Lake and earlier as an Administrative Intern for Eden Prairie.
She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Social Welfare from the University of Kansas.
Public Interviews Set for February 24
Finalist interviews will take place Tuesday, February 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Wayzata City Hall and the Wayzata Library.
Three interview panels will participate in the final selection process:
- The Wayzata City Council
- The Staff Leadership Team
- Invited community members representing city commissions, boards, the business community, and residents
The interviews are open to the public to observe in person. A detailed schedule will be included in the February 24 City Council agenda packet.
Former City Manager Jeff Dahl served Wayzata for more than nine years before accepting the position of City Administrator for Woodbury, Minnesota, in July 2025.
The council is expected to continue its deliberations following the February 24 interviews.
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Information session set for March 4; residents encouraged to review details and ask questions
Wayzata Public Schools voters will weigh three funding questions on April 14, 2026, following School Board approval to place the requests on the ballot.
According to the official notice mailed to residents, the ballot will include:
- Question 1: Renewal of the district’s existing technology levy.
- Question 2: Approval of school building bonds for growth and facilities needs.
- Question 3: Approval of bond funding for a new 8-lane swimming pool at Wayzata High School.
An information session is scheduled for March 4, 2026, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at the Creekside Building in Plymouth.
As the district begins community presentations, Superintendent Chace Anderson has emphasized continued enrollment growth, long-term planning, and the district’s AAA bond rating as indicators of financial strength and readiness to move forward.
At recent meetings, Anderson pointed to a steady increase from roughly 10,500 students in 2012–13 to approximately 13,000 students this school year, with projections suggesting continued growth. He noted that facilities planning has been underway for years and referenced a positive Review & Comment response from the Minnesota Department of Education.
The district’s published materials state that:
- Question 1 is a renewal of an expiring capital projects levy for technology and would not increase taxes beyond current levels.
- Question 2 would authorize up to $465 million in bonds for a new elementary school, a new middle school, high school additions, safety and security improvements, and other capital projects.
- The tax increase on the average homeowner is estimated at $29 per month, with a calculator available online.
A Community That Values Its Schools
Survey results cited by the district indicate strong support for school quality, with respondents linking school excellence to home values. That sentiment aligns with Wayzata’s long history of civic investment in education, from early schoolhouses in the 19th century to the expansions of recent decades.
Few communities place higher value on their public schools — and few communities understand as clearly how school performance intersects with property values.
That context makes thoughtful engagement especially important.
Questions Worth Asking
While the district’s materials outline projected tax increases in dollar terms, some residents have raised additional financial questions that may help voters fully understand the proposal.
Among them:
1. What are homeowners currently paying to the district?
Property tax statements break out the portion that goes directly to Wayzata Public Schools. For many households, that figure ranges into the thousands annually, depending on home value and city.Understanding that baseline allows voters to calculate:
- What percentage increase the proposed bond represents relative to the current school-district portion.
- What percentage increase it represents relative to the total property tax bill.
The mailed materials provide dollar impact estimates but do not show the percentage increase relative to current taxes.
2. How does this compare to prior referendums?
Wayzata voters have historically supported school investments. How does the proposed borrowing compare in scale and tax impact to previous measures?3. What portion addresses growth versus maintenance?
The bond language references new construction, additions, safety upgrades, and essential improvements.
Residents may wish to understand the breakdown between capacity expansion and infrastructure upkeep.4. What are the enrollment sensitivities?
Superintendent Anderson presented multiple growth scenarios — ranging from 25% to 100% of historical growth rates. Even under slower growth projections, district enrollment would exceed current capacity within the next decade.Still, projections inherently carry uncertainty. Voters may wish to ask how the district would adapt if growth slows or accelerates beyond expectations.
Encouraging Informed Participation
The March 4 information session offers residents an opportunity to hear directly from district leaders and review supporting materials.
A practical suggestion for attendees: bring a recent property tax statement. Knowing the current school-district portion allows for clearer understanding of how any increase would affect a specific household.
As always in Wayzata, the conversation need not be adversarial to be thoughtful. Supporting strong schools and asking careful financial questions are not mutually exclusive positions.
With early voting beginning February 27 and Election Day set for April 14, residents have several weeks to review the details and engage in discussion.
In a community shaped by both lakefront heritage and long-range planning, informed civic participation remains one of Wayzata’s defining traits.
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“Providence Academy’s Maddyn Greenway added to her long list of basketball accolades by becoming a McDonald’s All-American. Greenway was honored with a ceremony at the Wayzata McDonald’s on Thursday night. Only the top 24 senior girls basketball players in the country are recognized as McDonald’s All-American’s. Greenway is averaging 35.5 points per game for the Lions this year and just last week passed the 5,000 point milestone. Next year, she will play basketball at the University of Kentucky. Greenway is one of 23 Minnesotans that have become McDonald’s All-Americans and is the sixth girls player in Minnesota to be recognized in the past six years.” via CCX Media.
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“The Wayzata wrestling team beat Rogers 49-21 in the Section 5AAA semifinals Friday evening to advance to the section final. The second seeded Trojans won the first six matches to build a 34-0 lead before the Royals got on the board. The tables were turned in the championship match as top-ranked St. Michael-Albertville won all but two matches in a 52-9 rout of Wayzata.” via CCX Media.
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Sunlight shimmers across Wayzata Bay as an unseasonably warm day draws neighbors out in full force—sidewalks bustling, storefront doors swinging open, and a steady hum of traffic along Lake Street. From the Depot docks to the heart of downtown, it’s the kind of February afternoon that feels borrowed from April, with the whole town happily out and about, soaking it in.
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Nick Kallerup scores a touchdown against Minnetonka in 2018. Dan Gustafson. Wayzata has a Super Bowl champion to celebrate.
Nick Kallerup, a Wayzata High School alumnus, is a Super Bowl champion after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots, 29–13, in Super Bowl LX on Sunday evening in Santa Clara, California. Kallerup was part of the Seahawks organization throughout the championship run, earning a Super Bowl ring at the highest level of professional football.
Kallerup played college football at the University of Minnesota, where he appeared in 57 games from 2019 to 2024, contributing on offense and special teams and earning a reputation as a dependable, team-first player. That same steady approach carried him to the NFL, where depth, preparation, and daily work are as critical to success as what appears in the box score.
Emily Carlson and Nick Kallerup celebrate a Seahawks NFC Champion win. Image courtesy Emily Carlson. Ahead of the Super Bowl, Kallerup spoke candidly about the whirlwind experience of Super Bowl week during a pregame media interview. Asked whether the magnitude of reaching the Super Bowl in his first NFL season had sunk in, Kallerup replied, “Not really. think from what I’ve heard from some other guys, I think it would kind of sink in like game day to be honest.” Reflecting on his first exposure to the league’s massive media spotlight, he added, “that first media night like it was wild, it was crazy, but it was pretty cool at the same time.”
The Super Bowl victory was followed by another milestone for Kallerup — this time off the field. On Monday morning, People magazine featured Kallerup and his fiancé, Emily Carlson, in a national story highlighting the couple’s whirlwind plans following the championship. The article chronicled their long relationship, which began years earlier at Wayzata High School, and their plans to marry later this spring — just 60 days after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win.
The feature offered a glimpse into the quieter, personal side of life surrounding the NFL, as Kallerup and Carlson balance wedding planning with the aftermath of a championship season. From coordinating family logistics during the playoffs to shifting quickly into offseason life, the story captured a moment of transition — from football’s biggest stage to the next chapter of their lives together.
For the Wayzata community, it’s a proud reminder that local roots can lead to national moments — on the field and beyond it. From Wayzata High School to the Super Bowl and now the pages of People, Nick Kallerup’s journey continues to resonate close to home.
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