Always a person who strives to reach the pinnacle, whether it is in her daily life or on the soccer pitch, Bella Conti is enjoying the challenge of Division I college soccer and being a plebe at West Point. Just like during her days at Allentown High, Conti is embracing it all and continuing to impress on and off the field. After starting her West Point career with a few weeks of basic training, it was on to soccer where Conti didn’t disappoint, helping Army to a 12-6-1 mark and a spot in the Patriot League semifinals. Conti finished with four goals and one assist and a ton of league respect as she was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. “It was an honor and I have to thank my teammates, my coaches and the support staff for helping to get to that achievement,’’ said Conti. “It was cool, I came into the season and working hard through every game and it was a really nice honor to receive. I wanted to work every day as hard as I could and then take it from there.” There’s always a transition period from high school to college, and the one to Division I can be a little tougher. Conti was ready to make the necessary adjustments. “The speed and the physicality of college players is the biggest difference and it felt so much faster than the high school level,’’ noticed Conti. “The college  players were just stronger and faster and that inspired me to get to that speed and strength, as well.’’ Being a plebe at West Point can be challenging in a lot of aspects and Conti has welcomed them with the same tenacity and commitment that was at the root of her decision to attend West Point. “It’s challenging in many ways,’’ stated Conti, of life on the Hudson. “But, I’m pushing myself and learning a lot of new things and it has been a great experience so far.’’ A fan of movies, hanging out with her friends, good dinners and writing in a journal there were many attributes to West Point that drew her to want to attend. “You have an opportunity to grow as a person, as a leader and as an athlete and I wanted to be a part of that,’’ Conti stated. “The leadership mentality that is focused on here is something that drove me to want to come here. I wanted to be surrounded by people that had similar motivation to me and I wanted to serve my country as well.’’ Bella Conti in action for Army West Point this season. Conti went from CVC Player of the Year at Allentown to Patriot League Rookie of the Year this fall. (Photo via Army West Point Athletics) She credits her parent’s, Elizabeth and Brian, with giving her the solid foundation to succeed in whatever endeavor she should chose. “They were always pushing me every day to work and to dream big and always encouraging me to work towards my goals and that’s how I ended up at West Point,’’ said Conti. “They taught me to work hard in every single aspect of my life.’’ The aspect of soccer being in her life started at an early age and it was her parents who made sure she made the practices on time. “From an early age, I knew soccer was my favorite sport and I put a lot of energy and effort, so did my parents, towards soccer,’’ declared Conti.  “I love playing it, I love watching it and I love talking about it. I think it’s the most beautiful sport in the world.’’ Conti has a way of making the game look easy, and beautiful. Her weeks in basic training taught the need to rely on each other and to develop a mutual respect for everyone, whether it be a squad or team. A person who she has relied on for many years is her sister ,Chloe, who is a freshman at the University of Richmond. While Bella was the Trentonian’s CVC Player of the Year, Chloe was the Trentonian’s girls lacrosse CVC Player of the Year. That makes two very gifted athletes in the Conti family. “We are very competitive,’’ said Bella, of her twin. “I like watching women’s lacrosse but I don’t think it compares to soccer. We definitely push each other. She has pushed me in so many ways and we are always making each other better, on and off the field. It’s a love affair with family, West Point and soccer; along with a desire to make a difference that makes Conti a thankful person, especially at this time of the year.