For almost everyone else involved in the event, this week’s Champion All-American Showcase sanctioned by U.S. Lacrosse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But if Troy Haefele is moving around the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as if he’s been there before, well, appearances tell the story.

Haefele is one 96 players from across the country chosen to compete in the three-day event, which began Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The Saint Dominic Academy graduate is in select company after the U.S. Lacrosse committee picked him a second time.

“He was one of only five or six juniors last year,” said Dave Haefele, Troy‘s father and high school coach.

Players are required to apply for the honor and must be named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American to be eligible. They are chosen by a nationwide board of coaches and lacrosse personalities.

Haefele is one of only two Maine representatives at the entire showcase, which also included a three-day girls’ event.

Scarborough’s Joe Hezlep will co-coach Team Pride, one of the four boys’ squads. Haefele will suit up for Team Spirit.

“They try to balance it so kids from California are on a team with kids from Maine and Massachusetts,” Dave Haefele said.

Father and son flew to Florida on Tuesday and signed into the showcase Wednesday.

Champion provides all the gear, which the athletes received Wednesday afternoon meeting. They met with coaches and teammates before a brief practice, playing their first game at 7 p.m.

Thursday includes two more contests during the day.

“They give them time between games and an extended warm-up because of the heat,” Dave Haefele said.

Although the schedule doesn’t allow much time for the fun and games of the surrounding resorts, the players will have an opportunity to partake in the fun.

“(Thursday) night as a team they go to one of the (theme parks) for a team outing,” Dave Haefele said.

Friday’s slate includes a consolation game in the morning and a championship game in the afternoon. That contest will be shown on tape-delay at 7 p.m. Friday on ESPN2.

Haefele played in the 2011 final.

The trip includes a two-night stay at the Coronado Springs Resort.

Upon returning home, Troy will have only three weeks to rest up for his next athletic and life challenge.

He will attend Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y., on a lacrosse scholarship, and he won’t be alone. Troy’s older brother, Trevar, will begin his junior year at the school.

“He’s been starting at offensive midfielder. He scored 19 points last year,” Dave Haefele said. “It’s gone pretty well for him.”

Troy Haefele helped to lead St. Dom’s to a 36-game regular-season winning streak from his sophomore through senior seasons. Not including playoffs, he scored 161 career goals.

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