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The junior defender and co-captain is considered the leader of the Pioneers’ defense. He is second on the Conestoga squad in ground balls (behind the faceoff man) and was the team’s Defensive MVP last year, receiving All-Central League and All-Main Line lacrosse honors. Conestoga boys’ lacrosse head coach Brian Samson said, “Gunnar neutralizes the opposition’s best player, causes turnovers and makes a big impact on the field.” A member of the National Honors Society, Flesher is committed to play lacrosse for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Q: Gunnar, what aspects of your game did you work on the most during the past off-season?
A: At the end of each season, I try to identify what parts of my game need to get worked on and look at. So, this offseason I worked a lot on groundballs, footwork, and on-ball coverage. I knew that this year I would have to step up for my team so I had to make sure I could cause turnovers and get the ball to the offense.
Q: What has been your favorite lacrosse experience outside of Conestoga?
A: I think my favorite lacrosse experience outside of Conestoga was last year’s summer season with my TEN lacrosse team. Before freshman year my team had always been mediocre, but after my freshman year we had so much talent but not a lot of team chemistry. But finally during last summer, my team had the perfect chemistry and talent, dominating every tournament and only losing one game all summer and getting to the No. 2 seed in the entire country.
Q: Tell us a little about the importance of communication on defense.
A: Communication is how teams win or lose games. I would argue that it might be the most important aspect of team defense. Making sure that the whole team is on the same page is key to dominating offensive schemes and staying in control during broken plays.
Q: What has been your favorite experience with the Conestoga boys’ lacrosse team to date?
A: I think it would be our overtime win over Haverford this year. The first half was pretty rough going into halftime down 4-1, the coaches bring us all together saying “There is no one that is going to save you guys, no one is coming to help, it’s you guys and you guys only, you guys must pick yourselves up and go win this game.” Coming out of the locker room we were a different team, with so much energy and working well together we were flying all over the field. Then forcing overtime and making a key defensive stop, giving the ball to our offense for an inevitable win.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive lacrosse – have you always played a defensive position?
A: When I started playing lacrosse, I had played midfield and a little bit of FOGO, but as I grew up and started to get bigger, I decided to take up defense. I kept progressing and getting better and better at pole and now I love it and couldn’t imagine playing any other position.
Q: Who have been your top lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: Coach Billy Connors has been one of my biggest mentors because he has helped me master my craft as a defensemen in all aspects of the game — ground balls, on ball defense, off ball defense, sliding, etc. He has been a big help to me really bring my game to another level. Coach Gregory Hein also has helped me and is still helping me learn how to be the best leader I can. He is technically the designated offensive coordinator at Conestoga, but for me, he teaches me how a leader should act on and off the field and gives me tips on better ways I can help the team. I have had so many coaches in my career that deserve thanks.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 15 for Conestoga lacrosse – is there a reason you chose that number?
A: Before I got to Conestoga, I had always worn No. 5 in every sport that I play. But when I got to Conestoga No. 5 had been taken by a kid one year older than me so I had known that I would not be getting that number any time soon. So when I was taking a new number, No. 15 had called me. During my sophomore year my dad showed me a picture of the first time I played, and I had worn No. 15 then, so it’s crazy how full circle that number has been for me.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Conestoga? What do you plan to major in at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
A: At Conestoga, my favorite class was probably my mechanical and electrical engineering class, or my structural and environment engineering class. I plan to apply to the engineering school at RPI and major in mechanical engineering.
Fun facts — Gunnar Flesher
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Borderline (Vanic Remix).
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.
Favorite place to visit: Harvey Cedars, N.J. on Long Beach Island
Favorite pre-game meal: “4-5 eggs and a bagel.”
Person I most admire, and why: “I admire my Dad the most because of how much he helps me. My dad never played lacrosse, no one in my family did, but he always knows what to do if I make a mistake or had a bad game. He learned the game to help me grow. He also taught me how to be a leader on the field and off, teaching me how to be a responsible and respectful person, and I owe everything I have done and how I am today to him. He is one of the biggest influences on my life.”
Family members: parents Seth and Colleen, brother Deacon, dog Pepper.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
To view a gallery of the previous Main Line Boys Athletes of the Week click here
