Hortonville’s Braylon Branter leads the Polar Bears from the mound

In 2025, the Hortonville Polar Bears found themselves competing for another state championship as they took the short trip to Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton to the WIAA state Tournament. The Polar Bears are eyeing another trip to state, led by First-Team All-Fox Valley Association pitcher Braylon Branter, who has already had a stellar high school career.

Braylon started baseball at the age of three with encouragement from his parents, Todd and Laurel, and appreciates the friendships that baseball has given him. “Baseball has given me friends that will last my whole life, and I’ve made great bonds with people I never would’ve talked to if it weren’t for baseball.

Getting the best out of himself through challenging times is what has made Braylon the competitor that he is. “I would say my biggest asset while competing is my determination. It’s easy to play well in easy situations, but it really matters that you play well in tougher situations, and I feel that my determination in tougher situations is my biggest asset in the game.”

Braylon has committed to play baseball at Iowa Central while continuing his studies in sports psychology. “It has been a lot easier senior year than freshman year because over the years I have learned how to get a good routine for getting all of my practices and training in while staying on top of my schoolwork and grades.”

The feats that Braylon has pulled off on the baseball field have been impressive, including throwing a perfect game against Appleton West, along with personal growth. “It is a really cool feeling to look back on where I was as a freshman to where I am now. Seeing all the adversity I’ve gone through to get to where I am has made me even more grateful to be in the position I’m in currently.”

Braylon’s most memorable moments came in last year’s run to state: “The sectional day last year, we beat Kimberly for the first time in multiple years, and then beat the top 10-ranked in the state, De Pere, back to back to go to the state tournament.”

As Braylon wraps up his high school career, he shows appreciation to the coaches who helped him along the way. “I’d like to shout out all of the coaches I’ve had throughout the last five years at Impact Sports Academy in Green Bay. Every single one of them has believed in me and helped me develop to get where I am in my career now.”