Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) begins the 2023-24 school year where it left off in 2022-23 — in first place in the MaxPreps Cup standings.
The Trojans scored 2,303 points last year in the standings for the MaxPreps Cup, which recognizes the top high school athletic programs in the nation. Wayzata was the third public school to win the award in the 12 years MaxPreps has tracked the nation's top programs.
This year, Wayzata opens the first month of the season with 426 points and Top 25 rankings in four sports — boys cross country (12th), girls cross country (17th), girls soccer (16th) and girls volleyball (17th). The soccer and volleyball rankings are compiled by MaxPreps while the cross country rankings are compiled by Dye Stat.
Wayzata edges
Carmel (Ind.), which has 399 points and is ranked in boys soccer (2nd), girls soccer (4th) and boys cross country (14th).
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) comes in at No. 3 with 339 points and rankings in girls cross country (3rd), boys cross country (15th) and girls soccer (22nd).
The nation's top-ranked football team,
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) is No. 4 in the MaxPreps Cup rankings with 335 points. Besides the No. 1 ranking in football, Mater Dei is also ranked No. 6 in girls volleyball.
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) rounds out the top five with 279 points and rankings in girls soccer (6th) and girls volleyball (3rd).
The MaxPreps Cup is a formula that gives points for state championship and runner-up finishes. Points are awarded based on size of state, popularity of sport, size of enrollment division and number of teams playing in the enrollment divisions. Points are also awarded for a Top 25 ranking in sports where national rankings are compiled. The September rankings do not include any points awarded for a state championship or runner-up finish.

Senior Stella Swenson has Wayzata ranked No. 16 in the MaxPreps Top 25 volleyball rankings. The Trojans also are atop the MaxPreps Cup standings for September after winning the overall crown last school year. The MaxPreps Cup ranks athletic programs across the country. (Photo: Josh Johnson)
2023-24 MaxPreps Cup Standings for September
1.
Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.), 426
2.
Carmel (Ind.), 399
3.
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), 339
4.
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 335
5.
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 279
6.
Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 261
7.
Noblesville (Ind.), 252
8.
American Fork (Utah), 252
9.
Medina (Ohio), 249
10.
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 226
11.
Ventura (Calif.), 222
12.
Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.), 216
13.
Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 213
14.
Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 210
15.
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 196
16.
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 192
17.
Central (Miami), 188
18.
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 184
19.
Buford (Ga.), 180
20.
Duncanville (Texas), 176
21.
Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.), 174
22.
North Shore (Houston), 172
23.
Kahuku (Hawaii), 168
24.
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 164
25.
St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia), 160