Kurth has work ethic to power Orland
Senior leads Trojans with 6 goals scored
ORLAND >> There’s a certain workmanlike approach Amber Kurth attained through working on a farm that translates to other aspects of her life.
Kurth, a senior midfielder on the Orland High girls soccer team, grew up raising lambs in the local 4-H chapter, and continued on showing pigs once she moved on to high school and joined Orland’s
Future Farmers of America organization. Waking up to feed animals every morning, and working with them after school gives her a sense of responsibility and something to look forward to each day, she said.
As it pertains to the Trojans’ team, Kurth takes that hard work and applies it to the soccer pitch.
“She’s one of our farm girls,” Orland coach Tim Milhorn said, “and I’ll tell you what… the farm girls on our team, they get stuff done. We have a number of farm girls and it’s like, ‘OK, give it to the person who’s busiest,’ and that’s what it is with Amber. She takes care of business with FFA, her schoolwork, the team and just rolls it all together and comes out with a superior product.”
Between school, extracurricular activities, such as FFA, and playing three sports, Kurth has to manage her time wisely throughout the year. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s fun,” Kurth said. “It keeps
me doing stuff and not sitting at home being bored. I love it. I wouldn't be who I am without doing these different activities.”
During the winter season, however, soccer moves near the forefront of her priorities. Kurth, who leads the Trojans (6-4-2, 2-0-1 Butte View League) with six goals, according to MaxPreps, is also one of the team's three captains, along with seniors Michelle Ramirez and Janelle Fisher. Kurth considers herself more of a lead-by-example type of captain, but can offer encouragement when the situation calls for it.
That was true after the Trojans defeated Sutter at home Jan. 14 by a 3-1 scoreline to claim their first BVL win. Kurth took it upon herself to text the whole team afterward, making sure they understood the game was won as a collective team, highlighted by crisp passing and limiting mistakes.
“It was a great game,” Kurth said. “I made sure (to) tell the girls what they did and how well they did because it just blew me away.”
Milhorn said he was impressed with Kurth to communicate that message on her own.
“It was like, ‘We won that game as a team. We put it all together and we came away with a victory,' and that's what she said. ‘We are a team; it's not a group of individuals,'” Milhorn recalled. “That's excellent for a 12th grader to come up
with that kind of message to her teammates.”
Aside from playing volleyball in the fall and softball in the spring, Kurth said soccer is her favorite sport. She began playing in kindergarten and stuck with it into high school, earning a starting nod from then-head coach Lazaro Garcia as a freshman for the Trojans.
“I got to see all these amazing seniors and juniors and how they worked together and how they play,” Kurth said. “I was able to be a part of that and that was amazing.”
Her development continued into her junior season when Milhorn returned for another stint to coach the Trojans. She had also planned to try out for Butte United as a sophomore, but the timing didn't work with her schedule. Instead, she was able to join the club team the following year and saw her game improve.
“I got into it and it was so much fun,” Kurth said. “I love those girls. They taught me so much and I saw a tremendous amount of growth in myself.”
As a senior, Kurth would love to see Orland capture a second straight league title and make a run in the Northern Section Division II playoffs. The Trojans kept hold of first place in the BVL standings after gutting out a 1-1 draw against Wheatland at home Tuesday.
“We want to win league, for sure,” Kurth said. “Right now, we're on track and I'm so excited to see how far we can go.”