By Derrick Smith

Athletes do not just wake up one day ready to compete. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication in order to achieve the goals that they have set for themselves. Isabella Renfro says that she learned something early on in her career and it has helped her to stay focused on her goals.

“I have learned that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” she said. “That’s it, plain and simple. No matter how talented you are, you have to be willing to continue to work hard and get better.”

Renfro is a sophomore at Seneca High School, where she wrestles, plays softball, and throws the shot put for the track team. Along with playing sports, Renfro plays the baritone sax for the school’s marching band. She said that she started playing in the band just for fun but over time, it has grown into more than that.

“I joined the band when I was in the sixth grade,” she said. “I did it because all of my friends were doing it, so I did too. But over the years it has become very important to me.”

Isabella says that while she has had a lot of people that have had an influence on her life, there is one person that has the biggest impact.

“I really look up to my dad,” she said. “I know it’s cheesy and it’s probably what everyone else is going to say about their parents, but my dad is a really amazing person and I strive to be like him.”

Renfro says that participating in sports is fun, but she says that being in the band for football games are pretty exciting too. It is one of the big reasons why she enjoys playing in the band. 

“The football games are always really fun,” she said. “Everybody is so loud and excited, and it starts to feel less like just a bunch of people and more like a massive group of friends having a great time.”