Note: The Chambersburg Athletics Hall of Fame will induct its inaugural class of 11 athletes or coaches, plus one team, on Friday, Sept. 20 at halftime of the football game against State College. Stories about each inductee and the team will be published periodically before that date.

CHAMBERSBURG HALL OF FAME – MITCH STAHL 

Mitch Stahl had the height and he had the athleticism, and when he mastered the skills of playing volleyball, he turned into a force.

Stahl, who was considered the top volleyball recruit in the nation after his senior year of playing for the Trojans, was chosen to be included in the inaugural class of the Chambersburg Athletics Hall of Fame.

Mitch Stahl
Courtesy USA Volleyball

The Hall of Fame celebration will be held Sept. 20-21, with the induction ceremony being held at halftime of the Trojans vs. State College football game Friday night.

Also being inducted are the 1977 state champion Trojan girls cross country team, Stephanie (Van Brakle) Prothro, Tom Brookens, Bob Thomas, Ron Etter, Barry Carter, Marshay Ryan, Lowell “Doc” Schlichter, Dave Myers, Marcia Brown and Tim Cook.

In Stahl’s junior season, he helped carry Chambersburg to a PIAA Class 3A state championship under coach Kirk Crouse. The Trojans lost only three times that year, all to Central Dauphin, but avoided the Rams at states and edged Pennridge in the final, 23-25, 25-20, 15-25, 25-23 and 15-11.

In that year, Stahl was named the PIAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, the Mid Penn Conference Player of the Year and the Pennsylvania Player of the Year.

In 2013, his senior year, Stahl was selected for the 10-man American Volleyball Coach Association’s All-America team as an outside hitter. In his career, Stahl pled up 2,760 attacks, and had 1,432 kills, 252 block kills and 142 aces.

Stahl said he is grateful to the Frazer family – Bob, Kim, Ray and Tate – who encouraged him to get into volleyball and were influential early in his career, which didn’t begin until he was a freshman. He also thanked his parents, Lisa and Tony, for their support.

In high school, Stahl was also a valuable member of the Trojan basketball team.

He played for four years at UCLA, one of the top volleyball schools in the country, then played for various professional teams in Europe.

The highlight of his post-college career was being named to the U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team and competing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He competed for the men’s national team from 2015-22.

— By Ed Gotwals

Mitch Stahl and his teammates on the U.S. Olympic volleyball team celebrate in Tokyo in 2021 (photo courtesy Ed Willhide).