In June, Brine Takahashi was a pitcher and first baseman for the Bridgeport High School baseball team which captured a Class AA West Virginia state championship, the team’s third consecutive state title.

 

Later this month, he’ll be a regular on Wayne Jamison Field as he leads the BHS Marching Band in the halftime field show. A senior, Takahashi is the BHS drum major for 2016-2017. He loves the band and bringing individual musicians together to make music was appealing to him.  So without any formal training or directing experience, he auditioned for the role and very happy to get it.

 

“The thing I like most about it is being able to observe all of the members of the band from a different perspective to watch the potential you might otherwise never find,” he said.

 

Takahashi has been a member of the BHS baseball team since his freshman year. His interest in that sport, as well as music, began when he was a little boy.

 

His pursuit of baseball began with Bridgeport Little League, Pony League and travel teams.

 

“I played shortstop and first base, but throughout the years my arm got stronger and I started pitching and playing third base,” he said. “Now at this age, I’m playing anywhere they need me. I play first base and pitch, but in a pinch, I can play second base or right field.”

 

Being part of a three-time state championship high school baseball team is something that will stay with Takahashi forever.

 

“It was amazing to assist the team this year in getting another state title,” he said. “I feel like I had a lot of opportunities to help in many ways – whether I was playing or sitting on the bench.”

 

Takahashi’s interest in music started developing when at age five, he learned how to play the guitar.

 

“I stuck with that a few years, but as my sister got into fifth grade, she started playing the saxophone and she greatly influenced my music career,” he said about Aika Takahashi, a 2015 graduate. “I started playing the trumpet as I got into fifth grade. So when I got into high school, I was glad that I had a couple years to play in the marching band and jazz band with my sister.”

 

After working with the student musicians during two weeks of band camp and the percussion unit a week prior to that, he feels confident that the band is ready to perform a quality halftime field show this season.

 

 “We have a hard-working band and I’m excited to see what the show will look like this year,” he said.

 

In addition to football field shows, marching band includes various parades and other appearances, including competitive events, including the Cavalcade of the Bands which BHS will host the evening of Oct. 22.

 

“My goal is for the band to do well and progress through the show. I want everyone else to have fun, but still take it serious because there is a lot of potential in this band that I haven’t seen in previous bands,” he said.

 

Like with baseball, Takahashi knows that a busy marching band season will create a challenge with academics, but he’s up for that challenge too.

 

“Trying to do schoolwork and band might be a little difficult, but definitely possible,” he said. “Sometimes you have to put in more effort to keep good grades. I’ve had a few times when I did my homework on the bus going to a band event, so I would have less to do later.”

 

After graduation from BHS, Takahashi – an honor roll student – plans to study exercise science.

 

The BHS football season kicks off 7 p.m. Aug. 25 against Lewis County. The BHS band will perform pre-game and halftime shows. This year's halftime show is titled "Infected." 

 

Editor's Note: Photos of Takahashi and the BHS Marching Band are by Ben Queen of Ben Queen Photography.