Some times, the adjustments are minor. In some years, they are major.

This year's new section alignments fall into the major category, especially for a couple of Prior Lake's top programs - wrestling and girls tennis.

The new 2015-16 alignments came out March 8, as well as new enrollment figures. Prior Lake is now the seventh biggest school in the state and the biggest in the South Suburban Conference. The MSHSL's estimated enrollment for Prior Lake next school year is 2,354 students.

The Lakers' wrestling program has won five straight Section 2AAA titles and has finished in the top three at state each of those years. But the path to state next year gets tougher - a lot tougher.

Perennial power Apple Valley moves in Section 2AAA with Prior Lake and Shakopee. The Eagles have won the last 10 state titles and 16 of the last 17.

Apple Valley has beaten Prior Lake in the state semifinals four of the last five years and in the title match in 2014. Meanwhile, Shakopee has lost to the Lakers the last five years in the section final.

Other teams in the section: Lakeville North, Rosemount, Eastview, Chaska, Burnsville and Bloomington Jefferson. It's arguably the toughest section in the state now.

The Prior Lake girls tennis team has won three straight Section 3AA titles and was the state runner-up to Edina last fall. But the Lakers are now in Section 2AA with the likes of Minnetonka.

Prior Lake has faced the Skippers in the Class AA state semifinals the last three years and each match was a 4-3 decision. The Lakers won last fall, while Minnetonka won the previous two years.

So the Lakers' road to state gets much tougher. The team has dominated Section 3AA the last three years. The 15-team Section 2AA field also includes strong programs like Chanhassen, Shakopee, Eden Prairie and Hutchinson.

The Prior Lake volleyball team was ranked No. 1 in the state much of last fall, before falling to Chaska in Section 2AAA title match. The Lakers won a program-best 27 matches and was 9-0 in the SSC. The team has never made the state tournament, while Chaska won the title last fall.

The Lakers and Hawks are still together in Section 2AAA, which will be 12 teams. Eden Prairie and Minnetonka were added, along with Class 2A power Marshall, the state runner-up last year.

Chanhassen, Waconia and Shakopee are also in the section, which looks to be by far the deepest in the state.

In basketball, both Laker teams stayed in Section 2AAAA. However, the section got a lot stronger with the editions of Minnetonka, Edina and Eden Prairie, while keeping strong teams like Shakopee, Chaska, Chanhassen and Jefferson.

Section 2AA boys and girls hockey will also be different. For the boys, gone is perennial power Edina, Burnsville and Jefferson, but Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and Holy Family come in to join the Lakers, Shakopee, Chanhassen and Chaska.

For the girls, it's the same nucleus, but Chaska/Chanhassen is a combined team and New Prague is also in there.

Prior Lake boys and girls lacrosse go from Section 3 to Section 6, along with Burnsville, Eastview, Apple Valley, Jefferson and Bloomington Kennedy. Edina is also in there, along with Holy Angels and Minneapolis.

The Prior Lake swim teams will also see tougher competition. The girls stay in Section 2AA, but in comes Lake Conference powers Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. The boys go from 3AA to 2AA with Eden Prairie and Minnetonka in there as well.

Lakers' Nordic skiing stays in Section 1 with Burnsville joinng the field. The Blaze girls won the last four Section 3 titles.

For Prior Lake soccer, Section 2AA remains pretty much the same with the exception of the girls. Gone is Kennedy and Minnetonka is added, so that goes from tough to even tougher.

Baseball and softball are four classes starting next year. Both Prior Lake teams will be in Section 2. Six teams are similar - Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Chaska, Chanhassen, Jefferson and Shakopee. Baseball also has Edina, while softball has Burnsville.

In football, district scheduling starts this fall. The Lakers are in eight-team district with Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Edina, Shakopee, Hopkins and Maple Grove.

But for seeding the four, eight-team sections in the top class (6A), Prior Lake will be seeded with seven other SSC schools - Rosemount, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Burnsville, Farmington, Eagan and Eastview.

Section 1AAA dance stays intact with one exception. Faribault, the controversial state champion this past season in Class 3A high kick, moves down to Class 2A.

To see all the section realignments, go to:http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/SectionAssignments.asp.