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🍨 From Sweet Maple Sap to Sweet Victory—Wayzata & Plymouth Are Buzzing

🍨 From Sweet Maple Sap to Sweet Victory—Wayzata & Plymouth Are Buzzing

Dustin Hart
March 12, 2025

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Good day, Wayzata. This is Wayzata Scoop. More clutch than a buzzer-beater—bringing you the latest from Wayzata.

In today’s Scoop:

Gypsy jazz takes over Wayzata. Get ready to swing! 💃
Trojans Silence Hopkins in Thriller, Advance to State Tournament 🏀
Family-Friendly Maple Tree Tapping—Get Your Own Tree Pail! 🍁
Plymouth’s Sports Scene Expands—New Facilities for Pickleball, Baseball, Golf & More ⚾️ ⛳️

Let’s get to it.

— Dustin Hart

📢 TALK OF THE TOWN

The Rhythms of Paris Hit the Blue Water Theatre April 5!

Wayzata Musicales presents an unforgettable evening of music with Gypsy Mania Quartet on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Blue Water Theatre in Wayzata.

About the Show
The Gypsy Mania “Hot Club” Quartet brings the rich tradition of Gypsy Jazz to life—a fusion of Roma music and swing jazz that first took root in 1930s Paris. With fiery improvisation, intricate melodies, and a French twist on classic swing, this talented group delivers a performance that keeps audiences tapping their feet and on the edge of their seats.

For over 16 years, this quartet has captivated listeners with their dynamic energy and exceptional musicianship:
🎻 Gary Schulte – Jazz Violinist
🎸 Glen Helgeson – World Guitarist
🎵 Steve Pikal – Jazz Bassist
🥁 Jay Epstein – Jazz Drummer

"A group not to be missed. Django Reinhardt’s spirit was in the house."

Tickets & Details
🎟️ Adults: $26 | Seniors: $21 | Students: $16
📍 Blue Water Theatre, Wayzata
🕒 75-minute performance (no intermission)

🔗 Purchase tickets here

🎶 Major funding for this concert is provided by Jeff and Michelle Eckroth.

Wayzata Stuns Hopkins—Clinches Fifth Straight Trip to State

For the fifth year in a row, Wayzata claimed the Class 4A, Section 6 championship, outlasting Hopkins in a high-stakes battle Tuesday night.

With a state tournament berth on the line, Hopkins senior JJ Semanko drilled a clutch three-pointer to tie the game with under a minute to play, sending the sold-out home crowd into a frenzy. But Wayzata junior Christian Wiggins had the final word.

Wiggins, who had been on fire all night, buried his sixth three-pointer with 48.6 seconds remaining—then hushed the Hopkins crowd with a finger to his lips.

"It was a little too loud in here," Wiggins said with a grin after the game.

Wayzata sealed the 76-72 win from the free-throw line, punching its ticket to the state tournament once again.

Wiggins Dominates Hopkins—Again

Wiggins, Wayzata’s leading scorer (19.7 PPG), has made a habit of torching Hopkins. He poured in 31 points Thursday—23 in the second half—marking his third 30+ point game of the season against the Royals.

"He’s playing with the confidence you don’t see 17-year-olds play with," said Wayzata head coach Bryan Schnettler.

Wayzata (25-4) and Hopkins (26-2) have been bitter postseason rivals for years. But the Trojans have dominated lately, winning the past five Section 6 titles and capturing state championships in 2021 and 2023. Hopkins, meanwhile, is chasing its first title since 2019.

Early Surge, Late Heroics

Wayzata jumped out to a 30-16 lead in the first half, fueled by senior Wyatt McBeth, who scored nine of his 11 points early. McBeth also delivered a crucial block down the stretch, helping keep Hopkins at bay.

"Wyatt is playing like a senior that doesn’t want his career to be done," Schnettler said.

Hopkins fought back behind Davie Hart and Anthony Smith (21 points), even briefly taking the lead in the second half. But Wayzata’s defense locked in, limiting Hopkins’ No. 2 scorer, Jayden Moore, to just two field goal attempts.

Trojans junior Isaac Olmstead also delivered in the clutch, sinking a key corner three as part of Wayzata’s 14 total three-pointers.

Rivalry Runs Deep

This was the teams’ third matchup of the season, with Wayzata handing Hopkins its only two losses. Anticipation was sky-high—tickets sold out in under an hour.

With tensions already boiling over from their last game, Hopkins relocated student sections, swapping them for the school bands. But in the end, it didn’t change the result.

As the final buzzer sounded, Wayzata players left smiling. Hopkins fans, meanwhile, could only hope for next year.

"It’s a big rivalry game," Wiggins said. "We know the importance of it, and we know the importance of tonight—just getting to state."

Tap Into Spring—Wayzata’s Maple Sugaring Event Returns

Spring is in the air, and Wayzata’s Big Woods Preserve is calling! On Saturday, March 22, at 1:00 p.m., join the free Maple Tree Tapping Event, where families can choose a tree, hang their own pail, and collect fresh sap.

It’s a hands-on experience that gets you outside before yard cleanup season begins—plus, you’ll learn how maple sugaring has been done for generations.

📍 Location: Wayzata Big Woods Preserve (1221 Wayzata Blvd. E, east of Colonial Square)

How It Works

✅ Pick a tree & hang your pail
✅ Check on your sap daily and bring it to the Reno Street pond collection site
✅ Join a shift to boil the sap over an outdoor wood stove
✅ Take home syrup based on your contribution

All necessary materials are provided, thanks to our sponsor, The Retreat, a recovery center in the Big Woods. Participants must bring their own wide-mouth glass jars for syrup collection.

Space is limited! Sign up now to get notified when tapping begins.

Fun Facts About Maple Sugaring

🍁 40 gallons of sap make just one gallon of syrup
🌳 Trees must be at least 12 inches in diameter to be tapped
🌲 Sugar Maple, Black Maple, Red Maple, and Silver Maple produce the sweetest sap
⏳ Native Americans taught Minnesota pioneers the art of maple sugaring
🔥 Traditional sap collection used birch bark containers sealed with fir tree pitch glue

The season ends when the sap turns cloudy, the trees bud, or frogs start croaking after a thunderstorm—so don’t miss your chance!

👉 Click here to sign up!

Plymouth’s Got Game—New Sports & Rec Centers Open Across the City

With year-round sports and recreation in high demand, Plymouth has welcomed several new indoor facilities catering to athletes of all ages and interests. From climbing walls to pickleball courts, here’s what’s new:

🏔️ Big Island Bouldering (161 Cheshire Lane, Suite 500) – Opened in January, featuring climbing walls, a youth area, training zones, fitness equipment, showers, and even a coworking space.

⚾ Brower Baseball (12755 Highway 55) & Defined Baseball Academy (12940 Highway 55) – These two baseball and softball training centers launched in January, offering specialized coaching in pitching, batting, strength, and conditioning.

💪 ETS Performance (14355 23rd Ave. N.) – A sports training facility that opened last June, focusing on physical and mental performance training for athletes at all levels.

🎠 InnerActive (14600 28th Ave. N.) – A massive indoor playground that opened in February, featuring a jungle gym, slides, bounce zones, a basketball court, and play areas for toddlers and infants—open 364 days a year.

🏌️ KraftyGolf Studio (12700 Industrial Park Blvd.) – Open since February, this high-tech indoor golf training center offers private hitting bays, video swing analysis, and 3D motion measurement to help golfers fine-tune their game.

⚽ Level Up Soccer Coaching (2838 Vicksburg Lane N.) – Now in a larger facility as of February, providing private and small-group soccer training for all ages.

🏓 PickleX (3955 Annapolis Lane) & Pure Pickleball (13100 12th Ave. N.) – Plymouth’s pickleball boom continues with these two dedicated indoor pickleball centers. PickleX opened in January with six courts, while Pure Pickleball launched in February with 19 courts, a fitness center, and tournament hosting.

Plymouth’s sports and recreation options just leveled up—which one are you checking out first?

📖 QOTW (QUOTE OF THE WEEK)

“The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today.” — Les Brown

🌪️ WEATHER WATCH

Spring was feeling generous… until Saturday, when winter sneaks back in like it forgot something.

Wed 12 57°/31° Mostly Sunny 🌤️ | 💧2%

Thu 13 65°/49° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧7%

Fri 14 74°/48° Cloudy ☁️ | 💧15%

Sat 15 51°/19° Rain/Snow Showers 🌧️ | 💧55%

Sun 16 38°/27° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧4%

Mon 17 55°/36° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧2%

Tue 18 55°/32° Mostly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧16%

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