Paul Flohr

Veteran Chambersburg boys lacrosse coach Paul Flohr, starting his 12th season at the helm, will have one of his most veteran teams this spring.

The Trojans have 10 seniors on the roster and eight of them are returning starters. Add in one returning junior starter and that makes for a very experienced team heading into the season opener at Hershey on Saturday at 1:30.

“It should be a nice change of pace this year with all these guys back,” Flohr said. “Some of them were here four years ago when we only had one win, but we’ve been building. The experienced guys are out there in practice coaching up the younger guys, showing them things they had done wrong themselves before.”

At the heart of the team are a pair of four-year midfielders who were Mid Penn all-stars last year, Thomas Elia and Haden Ocker. Elia and Ocker both have a chance to surpass 100 career points this spring.

Thomas Elia

“Those two have kind of been running the bus,” Flohr said.

Throw in senior Nash Bothe and returning junior Klein Burkholder and Chambersburg will have a strong midfield.

Flohr said, “Nash is an animal on ground balls and face-offs and defense, and the young guys really respect him because he plays his butt off.”

The attack returns seniors Grayson Hopple and Aidan Brechbill and juniors Austin Brookens and Ben Melego.

“I think Hopple and Brechbill are playing their best lacrosse right now, and Melego and Brookens are good athletes who look to pass first,” Flohr said.

Freshman Dom Marangoni has also shown some promise up front.

With the graduation of Jake Gordon, Flohr is trying to groom someone for defensive middie, and he’s working with juniors Jake Corwell and Carmen Pompeii.

At long pole midfield, senior Caleb Shatzer is back, and Flohr is also mixing in junior Jack Doorfee.

Haden Ocker

“We want to be able to bring in other midfielders so we can keep Ocker and Elia fresh,” Flohr said.

The defense will be led by senior returners Andrew Shetter and Elijah Kelso, with Sam Trindel and Steve Alcegaire also in the mix.

In goal will be Angel Santos, who started the final three games last year.

“Angel still gets a little nervous out there, but he’s doing well and playing at a high level,” Flohr said.

Chambersburg, with all of its experience, will try to turn around a 5-10 record of last year.

Flohr said, “The kids are really showing that they want to win; I think our attitude is much better this year.”

NOTES: The Trojans will have 17 games this season, and the only three non-league games are against Spring Grove, New Oxford and St. Maria Goretti … Cedar Cliff and Red Land are now official Mid Penn teams … The Colts will be in the Commonwealth Division with Chambersburg … The Trojans beat North Hagerstown in a scrimmage, 5-4 … Ocker was a Mid Penn second-team selection last year and Elia was Honorable Mention … A Trojan graduate from last year, Pierre Alcegaire, is playing in college at Felician.