Top Nine Girls Teams Heading To NXR Heartland

Wayzata (MN)

The Wayzata Trojans came into the 2018 season ranked second in the nation. But despite the breakout of star eighth grader Abbey Nechanicky and the consistent excellence of frontrunner Atkinson, their fall hasen't quite lived up to their expectations. They took fourth at Roy Griak behind three Illinois teams, barely held off Edina at their Conference meet, and did the same at their Section meet. Then, the defending champions and top-ranked Minnesota team all season fell five points shy of defending their State Championship against Saint Michael-Albertville. However, it would be foolish to dismiss Wayzata's national ambitions. Though they took second to an incredibly talented STMA squad, they look very ready to qualify for NXN for the second year in a row. In addition, the 9th-ranked team in the nation has a history of performing in the postseason, and the interchangeability of their lineup (their seventh runner at State was their fourth at Sections and vice versa) could easily see them reversing podium spots with STMA. They have the talent to do it, and perhaps a commanding victory would be just the spark to propel them to the national stage.