University of Minnesota Athletics
Amber Dvorak Feature Story
12/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
When asked about the subject in question, Golden Gophers' assistant coach Ted Riverso said, "I think anyone who has come in contact with her is aware of that. It's a situation where it's just a part of her life experience."
So, what word is eternally linked to the name Amber Dvorak in the minds of those who know her?
Pickles.
"Everybody who knows Amber knows about her love of pickles," Coach Riverso said.
Amber hails from Hinckley, Minnesota, a small town located half way between the Twin Cities and Duluth. Hinckley is known for its casino, world famous caramel rolls from Tobies and the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894. Coming from a small town like Hinckley it would be easy to be overwhelmed by a university whose enrollment (66,099) is over twice as large as the population of your entire county (28,116). Despite the drastic change in atmosphere, Amber has found herself flourishing at the University of Minnesota.
"Everybody thought that I would be homesick right away, but I'm really not," Dvorak said. "It's basically like home because of all of the friends that I've met in Sanford [Residence Hall] and through basketball and classes."
Off the court Dvorak is considering a Youth Studies major. Her favorite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean, and her ideal weekend would be getting her high school friends together with her new college friends for a game night.
On the court Amber is working hard to prove herself at the collegiate level.
"Coming from a small town we didn't have the high competition level that we have now, and it's different, but I'm adjusting to it slowly but surely," she said.
Dvorak's goals are to get stronger and quicker. She is fortunate to have two experienced senior post players in Ashley Ellis-Milan and Zoe Harper to help guide her.
"I think that Amber came in at a good time," Coach Riverso said. "I think that she's got a lot of positive things ahead of her, and coming in at this time is really a good thing because we have some senior [post players]. She can come in, and she can learn so much from them: how to play, how to prepare, what it takes to play at this level, what the effort and the commitment level is, and all of the things that a freshman has to learn. She can learn from people that have experienced it and are doing it. She can observe, and I think that it's really going to help her grow."
Learning from her teammates will certainly help Amber grow as a basketball player, but what aided her growth height-wise? Could it be her love of pickles? Pickles do contain some calcium, a vitamin that builds strong bones. The average American consumes nine pounds of pickles per year. Amber claims that she could down 98 ounces in a day.
"In one sitting I can eat a jar. It depends on the day, but I could probably eat three 32 ounce jars in a day," she said.
Amber's presence on the team has caused the Golden Gophers to stock up on pickles like never before. Instead of the "breakfast of champions," Amber's pregame meal of choice always includes a big, juicy, dill pickle.
"All I know is that we can't get enough of them around here, because wherever she is she wants more," Riverso said. "We probably all have our own food that we like, but I'm not sure we're as committed to pickles as she is."
For Amber Dvorak two things are certain. She loves her basketball team, "They're like my sisters," and she loves pickles. "As everybody says, I'm obsessed with pickles." She hopes that her passion for basketball and her teammates, as well as her love for pickled cucumbers will take her far.
"How bright her future is is really up to her," said Coach Riverso. "Obviously she wouldn't be here if we didn't think she could play here. It's a situation where how quickly she grows and learns and works her way into things will determine what kind of player she is. My feeling is that all of that is in her hands, and she's in a great environment and situation to learn."
So are pickles the new Wheaties?
Only time will tell.
Article by Alli Johnson
