Wayzata in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Basketball Fever in Wayzata

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 27, 2015

1. Basketball Fever in Wayzata Marker

"The eight-team, one-class Minnesota state basketball tournament hadn't seen a Trojans team in 33 years. It's taken another 58 years -- until Wednesday, to be exact -- to see another one."
Minnesota Star Tribune article (2017)
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Inscription.
In 1959, Wayzata was out of the metro area, just small town with Greyhound Bus and Great Northern Railway as public transportation to Minneapolis. The Wayzata School District was mostly rural, made up of seven towns, with Wayzata as the commercial center. The Junior/Senior High School, at the corner of Barry Avenue and Wayzata Boulevard, had only boys’ athletic teams. Wayzata had lost 24 straight basketball games before Jack Thurnblad became coach. One of Jack's smartest ideas was to appoint Norm Schroeder as advance scout.

Jack possessed an intense determination to win, combined with a warm friendship-building personality which was a big hit with the players, their parents, and the Greater Wayzata community. Basketball dominated the sports news. The year's premier sporting event was the State Basketball Tournament which crowned one State Champion. This was the era before the professional teams came to Minnesota, changing the focus of sports.

Wayzata’s ’58-59 team was not as tall as most competitors, nor was it as deep in talent, but it had Jack with one goal at each game: win. 486 teams statewide entered public school

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elimination tournaments to determine the eight teams that would “go to State.” Wayzata was the underdog while winning the first games it played. The Minneapolis press began referring to Wayzata as “Cinderella,” yet continued picking its next opponents to win.

After Wayzata defeated much larger Minneapolis area schools for the regional berth in the State Tournament, Wayzata’s Mayor issued a proclamation: “Every place in Wayzata will be closed to cheer the school team on.” Lake area schools hung banners along Lake Street expressing their support for the Wayzata boys. Most merchants in Wayzata painted signs on their windows cheering the team on, and many gave free noisemakers, pompoms and hats to ticket holders. Game tickets were precious. Locals lined up at 4 a.m. outside the school for the 9 a.m. ticket sale. As the three day tournament progressed, teams were eliminated. Resourceful Wayzatans bought their ticket allocation and hustled those back to the school sale, providing Wayzata with the largest share of the 18,501 fans in Williams Arena.

In the Championship game, Wayzata once more came from

Basketball Fever in Wayzata Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 27, 2015

2. Basketball Fever in Wayzata Marker

behind to win, 55-41. The next morning, a 1000 car parade was waiting at the city limits to escort the team into town, with 2000 fans waiting for them at the school. As the small Wayzata community basked in the recognition of being State Champions, Coach Jack was given the keys to the City and many banquets were held around the school district for the team. A tradition was established. In succeeding years, Wayzata would win many State Championships in other sports. It all began with Jack Thurnblad teaching his boys of ’59, “Winners never quit!”

Erected 2014 by Wayzata Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 44° 58.163′ N, 93° 30.802′ W. Marker is in Wayzata, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is on Lake Street East (County Highway 16) east of Walker Avenue South, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wayzata MN 55391, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 27, 2015

3. Basketball Fever in Wayzata Marker

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Wayzata Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Burwell Barn (approx. 3.7 miles away); Ice House (approx. 3.7 miles away); Cottage (approx. 3.7 miles away); Woodshed (approx. 3.7 miles away); Mill Office & Workshop (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Burwell House and Family (approx. 3.7 miles away); Welcome to Burwell Park (approx. 3.7 miles away).

More about this marker. This interpretive panel includes six photographs and the tournament brackets for 1958–’59. Working clockwise from upper left, the third, fifth and sixth photograph are not captioned. The caption of the others is as follows: “This teen hangout in the Fifties was Supplee’s Drug Store soda fountain located at Lake Street and Walker Avenue.” “Wayzata

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High School State Champions, 1959.” “Jack receives keys to the city from Mayor Kallestad.”

Regarding Basketball Fever in Wayzata. The Wayzata boys basketball team would not win a trip to the state tourney again for 58 years. In 2017 they advanced to the Class AAAA semifinals, loosing to Champlin Park 62 to 70.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 508 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 7, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.