Growing Up Together
I’ve known Braden Hemquist my whole life. We grew up playing sports in the backyard, went to school together, and have been around each other through everything. Now that he just wrapped up his senior football season, I wanted to write something about it.
Senior Season at Spring Lake Park
Braden played tight end on offense and defensive line on defense for Spring Lake Park. He made a real impact this year. The Panthers went 8-0 in the regular season, and he was a big part of that. He threw key blocks, set the edge, held his spot on defense. In the final regular season game against Brainerd, he had two huge blocks on the opening drive and got named “Decleater of the Week” by the coaches. That wasn’t out of the ordinary—he did that kind of stuff all year.
The team was solid this season, and Braden had a lot to do with it. He wasn’t trying to get attention, he just did what needed to be done. Whether it was blocking for a touchdown or stopping a run, he played his role and helped the team win. That’s how he’s always been.
This year Braden helped the Panthers cap off a perfect run by winning the 2025 Minnesota State High School League Class 5A title. On Saturday, November 22 at U.S. Bank Stadium, Spring Lake Park beat the Chanhassen Storm 24-21 to claim its first state championship since 1991. The team finished 13-0, with Braden playing defensive line and a bit of tight end throughout the season and staying consistent in his roles during the playoff push.
Hooping After Basketball
Outside of football, Braden’s been one of my closest friends. After we stopped playing organized basketball, we still played in a YMCA rec league for fun, along with our other friend Henry Holm. We weren’t trying to prove anything, we just liked playing.
Nickle Dickle Dunk Contest 2025
He’s also been the main person helping me with dunk contests. I’ve done a lot of them over the years, and Braden’s always been there in the gym with me. When I needed someone to stand in so I could dunk over them, he never hesitated. At the 2025 Nickle Dickle Dunk Contest, he was on the court with me again. I landed a Dubble Up 180 and a Dubble Up Eastbay over him. My performance that day was probably the best I’ve ever had, and he was a big part of it.
What’s Next
Braden is probably not going to play football in college. He’s looking at becoming a financial adviser. He’s good with people, focused, and doesn’t overcomplicate things—so I think he’ll be great at it.
For the past few months, Braden has also been working for the same company as me at BlitzMetrics, as well as helping with some of the new companies like High Rise Influence and Local Service Spotlight. He’s made a real impact managing multiple clients, constantly learning new things about the space, and just doing great work.
Final Thoughts
As Braden and the Panthers wrap up his senior season, I’m excited to see what’s next for him.
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