They are the co-interim head coaches this season. Coach Barb Kass is teaching abroad at an international high school in Kuwait for a year, so she'll return to her old job next winter, leaving Weber and Blazek to run the ship.

Blazek has been with the Lakers' program for over a decade, while Weber has been coaching nearly 25 years and was an assistant coach on nine Class AA state championship teams at Lakeville (from 1993 to 2003) before the district split into two schools (North and South) in 2004. She was also a competitor on Lakeville's first-ever state championship team in 1986.

Weber has been with the Lakers the last three years. In fact, Weber coached Kass when she was a gymnast at Lakeville.

Weber said she and Blazek are excited for their new roles this season and with the kind of team the Lakers have back. Prior Lake had just one senior graduate last year who was part of the team's varsity rotation.

"We have a wonderful group of gymnasts," said Weber. "They are off to a solid start. Our team goals this year are to place competitively in our conference and to medal at sections.

"Last year we were tenths of a point from placing third in the section," added Weber. "Although we are still a young team, the girls have done an outstanding job with their offseason training to prepare for this year's competitive season."

Dobransky completed in the all-around at state last year, finishing 17th with a score of 36.925. She also finished 15th on the balance beam (9.225) and 25th on the uneven bars (8.925).

In 2012, the Lakers won the Section 2AA team title and ended up a program-best seventh in the state team standings. Dobransky was a big part of that Prior Lake team.

Lakeville North took the Section 2AA crown back last winter, while the Lakers were fourth.

Meanwhile, other returning gymnasts back from last year include: juniors Tarra Willox, Scarlet Hoffman and Angela LaCroix, sophomores Rachel Grosklags and Rikki Palma, ninth-graders Rachel Landro and Sophia Such and eighth-grader Maddie Gjorvad.

Newcomers to the team are seventh-graders Toriana Blair and Kapria Peden, eighth-grader Katelyn Costa, ninth-grader Doris Mor and senior Elena Kromark.

"Although it's still early the girls are working hard," said Weber. "And if we can stay healthy and injury free, I foresee a great year ahead of us."

The Lakers will open the season Dec. 10 at home versus Lakeville North in a South Suburban Conference dual at 6 p.m.

Prior Lake's own invite is Dec. 13 at home at noon. Teams in the field: Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Moorhead and Watertown-Mayer.