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The Boys State Soccer Final Four kicks off Friday, and the Fair Grove Eagles are back for the first time in three years.
Fair Grove’s dominating performance through the playoffs are in part a big thanks to Andrew Shurtz and Josh Orr, who were a part of the 2018 third place run. They’re now looking to become the first state champions in program history.
Their success goes back to a simple question, what makes a soccer team so good?
“You have to have so many aspects as a team to win. Everyone’s got to be on their A game, you can’t just have one player not bring it. You have to have good chemistry,” Fair Grove senior Josh Orr said.
Those are all characteristics of the Fair Grove Eagles.
The team is led by Orr and Shurtz, who know a little bit about building team chemistry.
“It’s been fun, we’re best buds we’ve been friends for some time now. We’ve played together for about 7-8 years,” Orr said.
“Definitely a strong brother type bond. Always having someone that I want to be better than and kind of going off of each other,” added Eagles senior Andrew Shurtz.
That bond has led Fair Grove to the Final Four.
“They have this connection that they work through the field together making these runs that they just know where they’re going to be. They talk well out on the field,” Fair Grove boys soccer coach Krista Miller said.
That’s because of their connection off the field.
“Andrew, he’s been there through it all. We hang out, we go to MSU fields, we play video games together whatever it may be he’s always my first option,” said Orr.
Both Andrew and Josh are team captains.
Andrew has 30 goals this year, making a strong presence on offense.
“He probably works on his hustle the most, he’s always running around the field chasing guys down. His ability to win the ball is such a high percentage,” Orr added.
While Josh has 24 goals and 24 assists, also helping out on defense.
“On the defensive side he’s very good and strong using his head and working the ball to the back,” said Shurtz.
As their senior season comes to a close, they’re ending where they started three years ago.
“It’s a great last year, we start freshman year and went to state and now we’re doing it again. I wouldn’t want to end it with anyone else and I wouldn’t want it to end any other way,” said Orr.
