By Matt Browning
Since first grade, Valley Center Braeden Heitsman has played with many of his teammates. Being able to play with them one more season is something that Heitsman is looking forward to.
“I am most excited to play on a field with all of my friends,” Heitsman said. “From first grade to now we will have our pee wee football days back and nothing is better than playing with your boys one last time.”
Heitsman was an honorable mention all-league offensive lineman last season where he recorded 54 pancake blocks, while allowing only two sacks. There were two areas he wanted to improve heading into the 2025 campaign.
“I want to improve on quickness and explosiveness off the whistle,” Heitsman said. “So I have been doing band resisted training, medicine ball starts, as well as training my lateral and horizontal movements. I want to be able to perform at the level I’m capable of to be first team all-league and all-state.”
With several starters back on both sides of the ball, plus some talented up and coming young players, Heitsman is hopeful the Hornets can be a contender in Class 5A.
“I want us to have over a .500 win percentage and win our regional and punch a ticket in for state,” Heitsman said.
