Speaking of rivalries with playoff implications, Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Wayzata are two of the several behemoth programs clustered in Section 6AA. And by behemoth programs, we mean teams capable of winning state championships year after year after year.
There have been several section realignments since 2009, but west metro teams playing out of Section 2AA or 6AA have won 10 of the last 13 state titles. Both Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Wayzata are part of of that statistic, with the Red Knights winning their big-school title in 2012 and the Trojans theirs in 2016.
The teams played for the section championship last season, with Wayzata prevailing 3-2. While No. 1-2A Edina lurks as the early section favorite, a playoff rematch between No. 4-2A Benilde-St. Margaret’s (2-1-0) and No. 7-2A Wayzata (2-1-0) seems likely to occur at some point in the bracket.
Both teams have a bench full of elite defensemen, with Mr. Hockey candidate Tristan Sarsland leading a Benilde-St. Margaret’s group that also includes fellow seniors Brady Yakesh and Ben Thompson. Twin pillars Reed Gardner and Cashen Naeve, both seniors, are the latest in a long line of hard-edged, shot-blocking Wayzata standout defensemen.