There's plenty of talent back for the Lakers, including five athletes who competed in the Class AA state meet a year ago - senior Sarah Schrader, juniors Ella Francis and Olivia Schroeder, sophomore Madi Scholl and ninth-grader Kristyn Arends.

Prior Lake finished fifth in the state team standings last spring, after a program-best third-place showing the year before.

"After graduating 20 seniors, 13 of whom are competing in college this year, it will be an interesting spring," said Lakers coach Scot Jaenicke. "But expectations are still high."

Prior Lake won the Section 3AAA True Team last year for a sixth straight season and finished runner-up to Lakeville South at state for a third straight year.

The Lakers were also second to Lakeville South in the South Suburban Conference Championships last spring, before defending their Section 3AA crown.

It takes talent and depth to compete at the true-team level. Despite the loss of the large senior class last year, the Lakers' depth should still be strong.

"We will be very strong in all of the jumping events," said Jaenicke.

Schrader finished 12th in the long jump at state last year, while Francis was ninth in the triple jump.

"They return as one of the top one-two, long- and triple-jump duos in Minnesota," said Jaenicke.

In the high jump, Scholl was finished fifth at state last season after taking fourth the year before. Francis was also competing in the state pole vault for a second straight year, taking 10th last spring.

Arends was the only underclassman on the 4x200 relay last year that was second at state. Schroeder was the only non-senior on the 4x400 team that was sixth.

Sprints have been a strength of the Lakers' program for many years. But there are more questions this spring, especially since Arends is coming off a knee injury suffered in basketball.

Juniors Nicole Hoepner, Eva Passek and Alyssa Altendorf and ninth-grader Alisa Robbins will have bigger roles in the sprints.

"There's also a lot of young speed coming up," said Jaenicke.

Scholl will also have a bigger role for the Lakers. She will also compete in the sprints and the hurdles. Also expected to be part of hurdle crew will be Francis, seniors Victoria Christenson and Chelsea Benedict, sophomore Christina Hanson and seventh-grader Taynian Walgrave.

"Walgrave is already a seasoned hurdler on the club circuit and will contribute right away," said Jaenicke.

Adding depth to the jumps, long, triple or high, will be Christenson, Hanson, juniors Danielle Sorenson and Sarah Ring and sophomore Sophie Zak.

Senior Andrea Citrowske is back in the pole vault.

The distance group will include senior Taylor Elshaw, juniors Becca Brinkley, Jessica Corcoran, Lauren Stach and Ellie Sullivan, sophomores Gabi Brinkley and Paige Pribble and seventh-grader Mallory Stach.

Mallory Stach and Gabi Brinkley were state qualifiers in cross country last fall.

The Lakers have to replace Kasie Vollmer in the throws, the state champion last year in the discus. Trying to do that are senior Sam McElwain, juniors Hannah Duckson, Lauren Seme and Kylen Hovis, sophomore Ashlyn Peppler and Christenson.

"Despite graduating over 80 percent of our total points scored from a year ago, I still expect us to be one of the top teams in the conference and section," said Jaenicke. "The names will be different and our strong events have shifted a bit, but we will still be competitive in late May."

Prior Lake will open the outdoor season April 9 at its own invite at 4:15 p.m.

The Lakers are in the Irish Invitational April 14 and the Lakeville Mega Meet April 16.