The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) honored 11 women – six of them from Philly – as Trailblazers this past weekend at US Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md. A group plaque, and individual plaques for each Trailblazer, were formally dedicated and the plaques were placed along the walking path that winds around the south end of Bill Tierney Field, which was formally dedicated as “Chris Sailer Trail.” This is one of a series on these legendary Trailblazers.
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/28/17
From Press Release and Staff Reports
Judith Wolstenholme, a graduate of Phoenixville and Ursinus College and head coach at West Chester, was one of 11 of the game’s legends honored as a Trailblazer by US Lacrosse last weekend when it formally dedicated the Chris Sailer Trail.
Wolstenholme has been honored with induction into four Halls of Fame: the Ursinus College Athletic Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Hall of Fame, the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Phoenixville Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame. While at Phoenixville Area High School, Judy played four years of varsity field hockey and basketball, two years of varsity softball and three years of varsity golf (on the boys’ team). She was the Captain her senior year in field hockey, basketball and golf. And, at Ursinus, Wolstenholme was a four-year letter winner in field hockey, basketball, lacrosse and softball.
Widely decorated and recognized for her achievements as a collegiate player in field hockey and lacrosse, Wolstenholme played played nine years for Team U.S.A. Lacrosse-which also included three World Tour squads (1964, 1969 and 1971). Her biggest impact, however, has been in the area of officiating-where she has gained significant notoriety in field hockey, lacrosse and basketball. She has been a teacher and influential mentor to countless numbers of officials.
In lacrosse, she umpired over 50 international matches-including two World Cups, and has umpired 14 NCAA Division I Final Fours. She was the first man or woman to officiate the NCAA Final Four – lacrosse, field hockey and basketball – in three different sports. On the coaching front, Wolstenholme coached lacrosse (Head Coach) and basketball (Assistant Coach) at Conestoga High School (1965-1968).
Wolstenholme coached lacrosse under the legendary Vonnie Gros at West Chester University for five years and then was Head Coach for four years. In those nine years, the Rams’ lacrosse team lost only one game.