The history of the Upper Arlington High School (UAHS) Girls Lacrosse Program

Rich with achievement, growth, and a commitment to excellence, both on and off the field. Here's a detailed look at the program's evolution and key moments:

The Beginning (1983-1990s)

• 1983: The program was founded by faculty member Pete Corey, who sponsored the creation of the UAHS Girls Lacrosse Team. At the time, only two local schools fielded girls lacrosse teams: Worthington and Columbus School for Girls (CSG).

• 1983-1986: Dan Paoletti, a UA alumnus, served as the first coach of the team, establishing the foundations of the program.

• 1987: Tom Stout, formerly of the Jones boys lacrosse team, took over as head coach and led the Golden Bears to a 3rd place finish in the Midwest Schoolgirls Lacrosse Tournament (MSLA) in 1991. The MSLA would see rapid expansion from 16 to over 70 teams by the mid-1990s.

• 1998: The rapid growth of the sport led to the formation of the Ohio Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association (OSLA), where UA was a member until the sport became officially sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) in 2017.

Wendy Pinta (1991-2007)

• 1991: Wendy Pinta began her coaching career at UAHS, initially coaching the junior varsity team. She had an extensive playing background, having started as a defender for Thomas Worthington High School in 1983, and later playing for The Ohio State University, where she helped the team achieve national recognition.

• 1992: Pinta was named head coach of the UAHS Girls Lacrosse Team. Over the next 16 seasons, she transformed the program, compiling an impressive record of 213-78-12 and guiding the team to three OSLA State Championships (2002, 2004, and 2005). Under her leadership, the Golden Bears were ranked in the top 25 nationally by US Lacrosse Magazine and Lax Power.

• 2007: Pinta earned the OCC Coach of the Year award and was also honored for over 16 years of service by the Ohio Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association. She was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2009.

Lynda Phlipot and Kim Rocheleau's (2008-2011)

• 2008: Lynda (McCandlish) Phlipot, a former player who helped lead UA to its first state title in 2002, took over as head coach. Phlipot made history by becoming the first person in Ohio to win a state title both as a player and as a coach. Under her leadership, the Golden Bears won the 2008 state championship.

• 2009-2011: Kim Rocheleau, former head coach at Ohio Wesleyan, took over as head coach. Under her guidance, the Bears reached three state championship title games, but were defeated in the finals, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to Medina in 2011.

Pinta's Return & Continued Success (2012-2019)

• 2012: Wendy Pinta returned to the head coach role alongside veteran coach Sue Stimmel (former Ohio State head coach). Together, they led the Golden Bears to their 5th state championship in 2013, defeating Sycamore 14-8.

• In 2015, the Bears clinched their 6th state title with a 12-8 win over Sycamore.

• 2016-2017: UA continued its dominance, defeating Jackson Massillon in back-to-back years to win their 7th and 8th titles. In 2018, the Bears defeated New Albany 11-5 to win their 4th consecutive and 9th overall state championship.

• 2019: The Golden Bears capped off their fifth consecutive state title with a 12-10 win over New Albany, marking their 10th state championship and the continuation of their 15th consecutive Regional Championship victory.

Coach Pinta's Legacy

• Throughout her career, Coach Pinta amassed a record of 441-107-17 and was honored as National Coach of the Year in 2017 by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). She was a driving force behind the growth of lacrosse in the region, helping to establish middle school programs and the Upper Arlington Lacrosse Association.

• Pinta co-founded the Ohio Middle School Girls Lacrosse Association in 1994 and continued to support the sport through her role in coaching and organizing clinics for younger players.

Morgan Fee Maldovan's Leadership (2022-)

• 2022: Former New Albany state champion and Ohio State player Morgan Fee Maldovan took over as the head coach of the Golden Bears. In her first season, she led the team to an impressive 22-1 record, though they narrowly lost to New Albany in overtime in the state final, 13-12.

• Facing a coaching change late in the offseason, the Upper Arlington girls lacrosse program’s next leader comes with a familiar championship lineage. 

Laura Sandbloom

• Playing Career:

  • Sandbloom was a standout player at UA, being an All-American in 2005 and 2006.

  • She played at Ohio State University from 2007-2010, a notable program in collegiate lacrosse, where she likely gained invaluable experience under coach Sue Stimmel, who also has ties to UA.

• Coaching Career:

  • Sandbloom has an impressive coaching resume, particularly her time at Colorado Academy, where she led the team to five state championships (as an assistant) and two more as head coach, with an exceptional 31-1 record as a head coach.

  • Her success at Colorado Academy, including multiple championships in recent years, shows that she is a proven leader and strategist.

• Return to UA:

  • Her move back to Ohio to be closer to family and her connection to UA make her a natural fit for this role.

  • With the lacrosse season quickly approaching, it’s clear that UA’s athletics department values continuity and strong leadership, and Sandbloom appears to fit that role perfectly.