North Carolina State University Athletics
Karla Hutton: Setting the Standards High
8/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 4, 2005
Written By: Amanda Whitley
Someone once said, "Hard work given time defeats talent." This type of attitude has been the driving force behind Karla Hutton but that's not to say she lacks talent. The 5-foot-1 junior from Clifton, Va. succeeds in life by using the same skills which make her a threat as a midfielder on the pitch. She is aggressive, focused and determined. Karla Hutton's secret to success is simple: hard work.
Never one to shrink away from responsibility, Hutton is looking forward to this coming season with the same determination she utilizes in the classroom as well. When asked about her personal expectations for the team she say, "We're setting the standards high... I just hope everyone is ready." After last year's disappointing loss by penalty kicks to Maryland in the first round of the ACC Tournament, Hutton wants a little payback. "Personally, I'd like to beat UNC, but there are some schools we need to payback." She's hoping for a higher ranking in the conference and a NCAA bid.
While some may think the team's loss of three starting offensive threats would be daunting, Hutton is optimistic, crediting a "mature" junior class and a talented freshmen class for that confidence. The addition of Boston College to the conference does not deter her either. She declares, "Boston College is a quality team. They'll be good competition." Hutton thrives on the competition and feels no pressure as an upperclassman. She pushes herself in the weight room for a starting position and finds motivation in her own parents' success. The daughter of two doctors, Hutton has seen the pay off of hard work and calls her parents her role models in life.
On the field, she recently made a change in position and found herself more involved in offense than before. Rather than complain or argue, Hutton decided success was the only option and she began working hard to improve her offensive skills. As a defensive player, she believes her strengths are aggressiveness and speed. She enjoys the defensive side, explaining, "I find it to be a challenge and I like it."
Off the field, she is a political science major with a concentration in law and an economics minor. Her future plans include finishing law school and she's full of California dreams. Hutton is considering making another change and attending the University of Southern California for law school. She's unsure about soccer's role after college and sets her sights on becoming a corporate lawyer. She applies the same dynamic and competitive nature to this goal as well. "The hard work my parents put in shows me that if I put hard work into my law career, I can be successful."
Her standards are set high and by finding personal motivation from her family, she is determined to succeed. Hutton may look small but her work ethic far outweighs any doubts one may have. Her hard work speaks for itself and reveals a powerful character, committed to success.
