Laura Moliken

WPHS Class of 1989

Educator & Coach

Laura Moliken attended the former Commodore McDonough Elementary School, McCullough and Gunning Bedford Middle Schools before moving on to William Penn High School (WPHS), where she graduatedin 1989. Her four siblings also attended schools in the district, and Moliken played sports with her sister Carol and identical twin, Linda.

At WPHS Moliken was a stand-out on the Girls’ Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball teams. She played as a starter on the Field Hockey team for three years; making First Team All-State as a junior and senior in 1987 and 1988, and she earned a total of 65 career goals.Moliken’s most memorable year in field hockey was 1988 when the team was named the Undefeated Delaware State Champion with Moliken scoring the winning goal in quadruple overtime!

Moliken also excelled on the basketball court and softball field where she was a starting player for four years. In basketball she was named a First Team All-State player and Honorable Mention All-American in 1989. She scored a total of 989 points.In softball, Moliken was a three-time State Champion in 1986, 1988 and 1989. She also was named First Team All-State catcher as a junior and senior, and Second Team All-State catcher in 1987.

Upon graduation from WPHS, Moliken taught in the Colonial School District and later was named the assistant Field Hockey Coach in 1994 when the team was undefeated for the year. She became Head Coach from 1995 to 1998. During her tenure as Head Coach the team won State Champion runner-up in 1997 with Moliken’s career record of 45-15-9.

Moliken also served as Head Coach for the WPHS Girls Softball Team from 1996 to 1998, leading the team to win two state tournament berths.

During her college years at Old Dominion College, Moliken was also an award-winning field hockey player. After graduation she was hired as a coach at Ursinus College where, among other things, she led the team to win seven consecutive conference championships.