Upper Arlington — For the first time since 1990, the Upper Arlington Golden Bears advanced to the field hockey state semifinals. Head Coach Sara Greaves shared her excitement: “It was incredible to see the players reach this milestone. This team truly deserved the recognition they received, and I was thrilled they could celebrate this accomplishment with their school and community.” Breaking a 34-year barrier, Upper Arlington finally shattered the ceiling that had held them back.
It had been a long time coming for Upper Arlington, who powered through the 2024 season with a remarkable 20-win run, reaching the state semifinals in Worthington on Thursday. Blocking their path to a championship were the three-time defending state champions, the Thomas Worthington Cardinals, who went on to claim their third consecutive title with a 5-0 victory over Shaker Heights on Saturday.
Their 20-win season came with relative ease at times, but Coach Greaves emphasized that anyone could win at any moment in Ohio’s field hockey scene. “We knew that we needed to continue to perform our best to come out with a win each game,” she said. “We also knew that there was always room for improvement, so we focused on what we needed to get better at, regardless of the score of a game or the opponent we faced on a given day.”
The 2024 team had a unique strength that contributed to their success: anyone could step up at any time. In other words, there were no singular X-factors; any player could be a hero on the field for the Golden Bears. “Our biggest X-factors changed from game to game, and that was one of the best things about the team. All 17 of our varsity field players scored goals, and everyone was ready to step up when needed,” Coach Greaves noted.
Coach Greaves highlighted sophomore Vivian Swary as one of the standout stories from the 2024 season. “One of my favorite storylines was seeing Vivian transition from a more defensive role to an offensive one, becoming one of our most reliable goal scorers in some of our toughest games,” she said.
She also emphasized player development and maintaining high expectations, placing that responsibility on herself and the coaching staff. “We prepared our athletes to play in various positions and formations so we could adjust on the fly when needed,” she explained. “We provided our players with focus areas during practice and games, and we held ourselves accountable for making progress on those concepts.”
The JVA and JVB Upper Arlington teams enjoyed remarkable seasons, with JVA finishing unbeaten at 14-0-2 for the second consecutive year, while JVB achieved a solid 9-4-2 record against higher-level competition. Coach Greaves reflected on the strong foundation of Upper Arlington’s field hockey program, saying, “My favorite part of working with Upper Arlington field hockey was spreading the love of the game. What I found most rewarding was the enthusiasm on our team and in our community for the sport of field hockey.”
The story of the 2024 Golden Bears was defined by selflessness, the ability to find light in the darkest moments, and a deep love for the game. “I believed our team’s adaptability and balance were the defining characteristics that year,” Coach Greaves explained. “The team learned that we could find success in any circumstance, and we were at our best when we got our passing sequences going.”
Even with their journey ending in Worthington, Upper Arlington’s achievement remained significant. In fact, it might just have marked the start of a golden era for Golden Bears field hockey. “Our athletes loved to compete, were dedicated to continuous improvement, and modeled effective teamwork each day,” said Coach Greaves. “With that formula, I believe they could accomplish anything they set their minds to in the years ahead.”
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