Witt hits all the right notes at Lake Park
By Ken Keenan
Whether it's playing soccer or playing the flute, total devotion is the name of the game for Lake Park sophomore Bella Witt.
In addition to being a second-year defender on the Lancers' girls varsity soccer squad, Witt is one of only five sophomore members of Lake Park's 40-member Wind Symphony, the school's top band. She also served as Marching Band flute section leader in the 2019-20 school year after earning the Outstanding Rookie Award for Visual Performance with the marching band during her freshman year.
Witt, who began playing the flute in fourth grade, held the coveted first chair slot as a flutist with the Freshman Concert Band as well.
"Band and soccer are my passions, and I want to grow and develop in both," Witt said. "When I first tried it out, the flute just sounded gorgeous to me. It was easy to hold, too. I wanted to make beautiful music with it, and I fell in love with it ever since."
Witt continued: "With soccer, I come from a family of basketball players and football players, so I'm very competitive. I love the feeling of chasing that ball, working hard and making something happen. And working toward one common goal. The fight, the struggle ... I love it all."
As flute section leader with the marching band, Witt is responsible for ensuring that she and her fellow flutists are all in sync during rehearsals and performances. She also serves as the section's featured soloist.
"As a section leader, one of the biggest things, you have to be aware," Witt said. "You have to be that leader, that figure of authority, but also know your part and adapt to everyone else's skills and needs as well. You have to be a people person. You have to help others develop."
Added Witt: "There are different personalities. Some take the feedback well and some don't. It's not a personal thing. You have to get the job done. But we work together well."
Lake Park Director of Bands Mike Lehman, who oversees a total of seven bands at the school, said Witt also fits right in with the other Wind Symphony members, most of whom are upperclassmen.
"It's an extremely talented group, and she hangs with the seniors, no problem," Lehman said. "She's a tremendous young lady ... a super-talented musician. And her tenacity and aggressiveness toward the task, she's 100 percent in on everything she does. That's pretty remarkable, to be only 16 years old and completely committed to everything she does."
Lancers head coach Sean Crosby said he's "not surprised" Witt is rising up the ranks musically, considering he recognizes the same traits when it comes to soccer.
"Bella is very dedicated to juggling what's important to her," Crosby said. "She's very committed to soccer but has commitment to band as well. I'm very impressed with her ability to balance both things -- and doing it the right way. Being committed and dedicated to something helps build character, and Bella has that commitment."
Crosby continued: "On the soccer field as a defender, she's feisty, aggressive ... no quit. Win the ball back or shut down an opponent. But she's also dedicated to challenging herself and pushing her limits, growing her craft. That stands out to me as a coach ... showing by example what it means to be a leader."
Lehman said the same goes for Witt regarding her roles with the different bands.
"She does a great job of inspiring and encouraging those around her ... takes the time to help," Lehman said. "As a student leader, she's an extension of the staff. She can take care of a problem in her section, making sure everyone is hitting the checkpoint to reach the finish line together."
Added Lehman: "Bella is the kid who comes in early and stays late. She's definitely a team player. She realizes the sum of the individuals defines the strength of the team. Having a shared vision, shared goals, that really parallels well; and no shortcuts. Staying dedicated, staying focused, that's a good recipe for life. The fact that Bella is high-level, in both sports and music, speaks to the values of those abilities."
Crosby said, "It's the same thing in soccer, being dedicated to your craft so those around you do well. It's their team, their band, and that creates an environment where the student-athletes lead the group. If you can create that ownership, it can drive the group forward -- a level of growth that goes beyond what a coach or band leader offers."
Added Crosby: "Someone like Bella, that sets a great example for the group, that dedicated drive in a group setting can inspire others around you. In a musical group or athletic competition, (it's) the traits of wanting to get better at your craft. Individually grow so the group can grow."
Witt embraced that approach when she passed the required four tests to assume a leadership role as first chair in the Freshman Concert Band.
"My responsibility there is to take charge," she said. "But one of the biggest responsibilities, you have to know what you're doing and be skilled. You have to be qualified ... have to be really sharp with your skills before you take charge."
Witt also is aware that another aspect of taking charge involves speaking up when things aren't going smoothly, in band settings and soccer matches alike.
"It's easy to lose motivation when you're down 3-0 in soccer -- or in band, being off a little," she said. "So it's a challenge. You want to win, want to do your best. The game's not over, the performance is not over. So it takes a strong-willed person to say, 'We got this. Keep your heads up and keep going.'"
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken the 'going' out of most everything, including the 2020 girls soccer season and some school band performances as well. That's no fun for Witt, but it's not about to stop her from keeping things in perspective.
"It's so devastating not to have a soccer season," she said. "We're a stacked team, and we had high hopes. It's really tough. But it's a tough time for everybody. It's a human thing to be down right now, but we can still dribble a ball or get up and go for a jog ... keep ourselves sharp."
Added Witt: "Wind Symphony, I really miss it, too. But we're doing weekly assignments, so we're still practicing even though we're not together. You have to keep pushing forward."
By Ken Keenan
Whether it's playing soccer or playing the flute, total devotion is the name of the game for Lake Park sophomore Bella Witt.
In addition to being a second-year defender on the Lancers' girls varsity soccer squad, Witt is one of only five sophomore members of Lake Park's 40-member Wind Symphony, the school's top band. She also served as Marching Band flute section leader in the 2019-20 school year after earning the Outstanding Rookie Award for Visual Performance with the marching band during her freshman year.
Witt, who began playing the flute in fourth grade, held the coveted first chair slot as a flutist with the Freshman Concert Band as well.
"Band and soccer are my passions, and I want to grow and develop in both," Witt said. "When I first tried it out, the flute just sounded gorgeous to me. It was easy to hold, too. I wanted to make beautiful music with it, and I fell in love with it ever since."
Witt continued: "With soccer, I come from a family of basketball players and football players, so I'm very competitive. I love the feeling of chasing that ball, working hard and making something happen. And working toward one common goal. The fight, the struggle ... I love it all."
As flute section leader with the marching band, Witt is responsible for ensuring that she and her fellow flutists are all in sync during rehearsals and performances. She also serves as the section's featured soloist.
"As a section leader, one of the biggest things, you have to be aware," Witt said. "You have to be that leader, that figure of authority, but also know your part and adapt to everyone else's skills and needs as well. You have to be a people person. You have to help others develop."
Added Witt: "There are different personalities. Some take the feedback well and some don't. It's not a personal thing. You have to get the job done. But we work together well."
Lake Park Director of Bands Mike Lehman, who oversees a total of seven bands at the school, said Witt also fits right in with the other Wind Symphony members, most of whom are upperclassmen.
"It's an extremely talented group, and she hangs with the seniors, no problem," Lehman said. "She's a tremendous young lady ... a super-talented musician. And her tenacity and aggressiveness toward the task, she's 100 percent in on everything she does. That's pretty remarkable, to be only 16 years old and completely committed to everything she does."
Lancers head coach Sean Crosby said he's "not surprised" Witt is rising up the ranks musically, considering he recognizes the same traits when it comes to soccer.
"Bella is very dedicated to juggling what's important to her," Crosby said. "She's very committed to soccer but has commitment to band as well. I'm very impressed with her ability to balance both things -- and doing it the right way. Being committed and dedicated to something helps build character, and Bella has that commitment."
Crosby continued: "On the soccer field as a defender, she's feisty, aggressive ... no quit. Win the ball back or shut down an opponent. But she's also dedicated to challenging herself and pushing her limits, growing her craft. That stands out to me as a coach ... showing by example what it means to be a leader."
Lehman said the same goes for Witt regarding her roles with the different bands.
"She does a great job of inspiring and encouraging those around her ... takes the time to help," Lehman said. "As a student leader, she's an extension of the staff. She can take care of a problem in her section, making sure everyone is hitting the checkpoint to reach the finish line together."
Added Lehman: "Bella is the kid who comes in early and stays late. She's definitely a team player. She realizes the sum of the individuals defines the strength of the team. Having a shared vision, shared goals, that really parallels well; and no shortcuts. Staying dedicated, staying focused, that's a good recipe for life. The fact that Bella is high-level, in both sports and music, speaks to the values of those abilities."
Crosby said, "It's the same thing in soccer, being dedicated to your craft so those around you do well. It's their team, their band, and that creates an environment where the student-athletes lead the group. If you can create that ownership, it can drive the group forward -- a level of growth that goes beyond what a coach or band leader offers."
Added Crosby: "Someone like Bella, that sets a great example for the group, that dedicated drive in a group setting can inspire others around you. In a musical group or athletic competition, (it's) the traits of wanting to get better at your craft. Individually grow so the group can grow."
Witt embraced that approach when she passed the required four tests to assume a leadership role as first chair in the Freshman Concert Band.
"My responsibility there is to take charge," she said. "But one of the biggest responsibilities, you have to know what you're doing and be skilled. You have to be qualified ... have to be really sharp with your skills before you take charge."
Witt also is aware that another aspect of taking charge involves speaking up when things aren't going smoothly, in band settings and soccer matches alike.
"It's easy to lose motivation when you're down 3-0 in soccer -- or in band, being off a little," she said. "So it's a challenge. You want to win, want to do your best. The game's not over, the performance is not over. So it takes a strong-willed person to say, 'We got this. Keep your heads up and keep going.'"
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken the 'going' out of most everything, including the 2020 girls soccer season and some school band performances as well. That's no fun for Witt, but it's not about to stop her from keeping things in perspective.
"It's so devastating not to have a soccer season," she said. "We're a stacked team, and we had high hopes. It's really tough. But it's a tough time for everybody. It's a human thing to be down right now, but we can still dribble a ball or get up and go for a jog ... keep ourselves sharp."
Added Witt: "Wind Symphony, I really miss it, too. But we're doing weekly assignments, so we're still practicing even though we're not together. You have to keep pushing forward."