LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — As any Gen Z youth who grew up on Disney Channel movies knows, in the 2015 cinematic adventure film “Descendants,” many of the main characters bond over the fictional game “tourney,” modeled after lacrosse. While the movie’s plot focuses on the children of classic Disney villains, a young Amalia Berthon had eyes for only one thing: tourney. 

Longing to be like her beloved characters, Berthon, a junior at Los Alamitos High School,  set out to experience the next closest thing. She began her athletic career in sixth grade after experimenting with different sports to discover her true passion, but she eventually decided on lacrosse. 

“Before lacrosse, I played basketball and softball, but I just didn’t enjoy playing those sports that much,” Berthon said. 

Currently on the LAHS girls varsity lacrosse team, Berthon has immensely grown her lacrosse talents, leading her to come across a spot on the Orange County national lacrosse team. Berthon explained how she joined the team and her upcoming position. 

“For the OC national team, coaches nominate their players to try out,” Berthon said. “I will also be playing midfield.” 

The official USA Lacrosse National Tournament itself was hosted from May 24-25 at the University of Massachusetts, where high school girls from across the country competed for the national title. The OC team began their competitions on May 24, competing against teams from Philadelphia, Southern Florida, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

However, each team was only allowed two practices which proved difficult as many teammates didn’t know each other. Berthon explained how she only knew four people from her club team while the rest were from schools across Orange County. But even with their unfamiliarity, Berthon and the OC team successfully played as a strong unit. 

The OC team ended up winning three of their four games, ultimately losing against the Massachusetts/Rhode Island team.

“We got destroyed by them, but it’s okay (because) setbacks make us stronger,” Berthon said. “(Lacrosse) isn’t as big on the West Coast as it is on the East Coast, so we got to see how good everyone is out there”

Aside from her recent competitions with the OC national team, Berthon’s accomplishments have also extended to her contributions to the LAHS varsity team. She recalled her favorite memory from her past season, playing for the LAHS varsity team as they beat Corona del Mar High School in overtime. 

“We were ranked fourth in the league and they were ranked second, so it felt really good to beat a team that was projected to beat us,” Berthon said.

However, lacrosse isn’t only Berthon’s passion. It’s also shaped her into a better person and helped her become a strong teammate. 

From her young self dreaming of “Descendants” days to her journey to become a national champion, Berthon’s tireless work ethic and strive to constantly improve has led her to be one of the strongest lacrosse players in Orange County. 

“This responsibility to the best player I can be, not just to be great (at lacrosse), but also a good teammate, has pushed me to work hard even when I feel tired or am having a bad day,” Berthon said.