Snagging touchdown passes and victories

As the years rolled by, Brayden Holt knew he was getting closer to an emotional moment.

The Mount Si Wildcats racked up wins on the football field and soon it was time for a senior-night celebration.

“Ever since my freshman year, I knew this program was gonna be special the next couple years. Me and Colby (Botten) reflected on our senior night, saying, ‘Well, we dreamt about this moment for four years and it’s finally here,’” Holt said on a recent Monday as the Wildcats began counting down the days until their next 4A state playoff game.

Three days earlier, the 6-foot-2 wide receiver hauled in four touchdown passes from quarterback Clay Millen during a 46-21 triumph over Chiawana to advance to the quarterfinals. At press time, the Wildcats were set to play Lake Stevens on Nov. 23 with a semifinal spot on the line for Nov. 30.

Holt — who snagged 11 passes for 180 yards against Chiawana — said the team tightened its bonds as the season progressed. In order to win copious games, the Wildcats needed to become closer each week.

After a tough loss to Eastlake in October, Holt and his fellow captains gathered for an hourlong discussion that focused on how to improve the team’s bonds off the field that would help the overall picture. They had a solid practice that day and the Wildcats powered forward to win six consecutive contests heading into the quarterfinals.

Through his stellar play this season, Holt has received an offer to play at Montana State University Northern next year. Nothing’s been decided yet, but Holt said his top goal is to get an education from a four-year university and focus on either sports medicine or business in the classroom.

The Record asked Holt a series of questions to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:

What super power would you like to have?

Watching all the super-hero movies I do, I think being able to fly would be sweet, just getting around quicker and faster would be really nice.

What’s your favorite kind of music?

It depends on the season or the mood I’m in. During the summer, it’s just all country, uplifting music. Kind of around this time, just today’s rap, kind of gets me focused for games.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

I think it’s myself when my room’s messy and I come home, if it was a long day and my room’s messy, I’m so mad at myself that I didn’t clean it the night before or the night before that.

As long as the football season keeps rolling, you’re still at practices and all that. I guess a messy room would equal success.

Yeah, exactly. Maybe it’s a good thing.

What’s your dream vacation spot?

I always love the water and I always like the sun, so either if I was in Lake Chelan or if I went to Hawaii or the Dominican Republic or Cabo that would be really cool.

If you could go to dinner with one person, who would that be?

I think I would have to go with Cooper Kupp. Ever since he’s been at Eastern, I’ve always admired the way that he plays and just his work ethic. (Former Mount Si star receiver Jonny Barrett chose Kupp in last year’s Record feature as well.)

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Having a short-term memory. If you do something great, you can still think about it, but just focus on what’s up ahead.

Do you have any kind of routine before a game or any kind of superstition?

I’m probably one of the most superstitious people I know. Before games, if it’s on a Friday or a Saturday, I drive down to Kirkland, my coach Hugh Millen showed me a chiropractor named Neno. I try to go down there before every single game or else I think I’m gonna have a bad game. After that, I come home and if it’s a home game, I have to get Jersey Mike’s, a Gatorade and a water, and then I always listen to the same song before I go out to the field (“She Got the Best of Me” by Luke Combs).

Is there any kind of skill you’d like to learn that you haven’t had a chance to tackle?

I think have good handwriting, ‘cause I’ve always had horrible handwriting throughout my years.