Showcase Q&A: Macomb’s Holthaus discusses choosing Wartburg College, loud gyms and golf course work
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10.
MACOMB, Ill. — Braden Holthaus figured basketball was his future.
Then college football coaches came calling.
The recent Macomb High School graduate enjoyed success in both, leading the Bombers to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth last fall as threw for 1,933 yards and 22 touchdonws as the starting quarterback while also running for 718 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His basketball numbers weren’t quite as eye-catching — the 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 11 points per game — but his accolades showed his value. He was a two-time All-Prairieland Conference South Division selection, including a unanimous selection as a senior when the Bombers won 22 games and a regional title.
He drew interest from college coaches in both sports, but the football recruiters made him a priority. That led to Wartburg College, an NCAA Division III program in Waverly, Iowa, winning the Holthaus lottery.
“I have a bunch of family around there,” Holthaus said. “It was between basketball and football, and I got looked at more for football than basketball. And Wartburg is a really good school in all sports. I wanted to go to a winning school, and Wartburg definitely has that.”
The Knights have won 10 or more games each of the last three football seasons, including going 13-1 in both 2022 and 2023.
That made his decision a little easier, although it was more difficult than anyone might know.
“I always thought basketball is the sport I would go to college for, but it just didn’t work out like that,” Holthaus said. “I still love football, but I like basketball just a little bit more than football. It definitely made it a hard decision. The fact I got more looks for football made it a little easier.”
Holthaus will get one more chance to represent Macomb on the basketball court when he plays in the fourth annual Muddy River Showcase on Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.
Holthaus recently chatted with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman to discuss loud gyms, working at the golf course and enjoying every moment for this Muddy River Showcase Q&A.
Q: What do you love about basketball?
A: I love that it’s fast-paced. I love constantly going up and down the court. I thought about going back out for baseball this year, but I quit a couple of years ago because you’re just standing there the whole time. You don’t get a lot of action. I think being part of the action the whole game. Being able to just run up and down and play defense and be active is what I like about basketball.
Q: What do you love about football?
A: It’s kind of the same thing. I guess it’s different for some people, especially being the quarterback. At Macomb, we ran the ball some. We did some read-option pass. It’s more up-tempo. Playing up-tempo is my favorite thing about it.
Q: What was your favorite moment on the basketball court?
A: I would definitely say beating Peoria Manual two years ago (in the sectional semifinals). That was insane. That was the craziest game I ever played.
Q: Was that the loudest gym you’ve played in?
A: I don’t know what was louder — that game or the Rockridge regional championship game this past season. For the Rockridge game, on every single shot, there were screams everywhere. And we were playing at home, so we had a huge home crowd. It was one of the loudest environments we’ve played in. It was one of those two games.
Q: Your home crowd and playing in the Hangar is pretty special, isn’t it?
A: It really is. There are always crowds in there. It’s a loud environment. Being able to play in there and get hyped with the crowd was a big factor.
Q: Do you know what you want to study at Wartburg?
A: Business management. I kind of wanted to do turf management, but they don’t offer that. I’ve been working at the golf course for the past five years now. So I want to be a head groundskeeper somewhere in the South. I think I could make a big career out of it. I can make it work.
Q: How did you get interested in that?
A: My brother did. He dated a girl whose dad owned a golf course. He started golfing one day and then he got me doing it. Eventually I started working there, and I also work at the Country Club of Macomb. Right now I’m working tow different jobs, but it’s free golf at both.
Q: Which course did you start working at?
A: Gold Hills Golf Course in Colchester.
Q: How much do you enjoy playing golf?
A: Honestly, it’s right up there with football. Obviously I want to shoot well, but I don’t go out there being too competitive with it. I want to have fun with it. It’s kind of a laid-back sport, which is what I like about it. So I’d say it’s right up there with football.
Q: What do you do at the golf course?
A: I do different things at Gold Hills and the Country Club. At Gold Hills, I do a lot of weed-eating and I rake the sand traps. At the Country Club, my favorite thing lately has been mowing the fairways. I used to mow lawns, and there’s something I like about striping the lawns. You can definitely see that in the fairways. I will say it is kind of difficult some times making sure you stay careful around the edges of the fairway and rough. You really have to watch to make sure you’re mowing it correctly.
Q: When you want to get away from sports and work, what do you do for fun?
A: I golf a lot. I hang out with the guys a lot. I used to fish a lot. I have to get back into that. I’m a big weight lifter now. I love to lift.
Q: If you’re playing college football, you better show up in good shape, right?
A: Yep, that’s why I started lifting two years ago. I wanted to get strong for football, and now it has turned into a hobby. I enjoy lifting a lot.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice anyone has given you?
A: I don’t know if it has been any life-changing advice, but enjoy every moment and don’t take anything for granted. With high school, you’re waiting for school to end the whole time and you’re not enjoying every moment. Now that it’s over, you look back and you’re like, “Wow, that was quick.” So cherish every moment that you get.
Q: Is that the advice you would give younger teammates?
A: Yes, cherish every moment. Have fun with it, Don’t stress too hard about your performance.
Q: What did you enjoy about going to school at Macomb?
A: I love the people. The community is very supportive in everything that I did and of every sport. They’re just great people.
Q: How close are you and your older brother, Leighton?
A: We’re actually getting ready to go golfing right now.
Q: Do you hang out a lot?
A: We hang out almost every day. He’s actually going to move to Florida for a golf job. Before he does that, we’re trying to spend as much time together as we can. He is probably one of my closest friends.
Q: Since all of your siblings (sisters Ainsley and Aubrey and brother Leighton) play sports, is the conversation always about sports?
A: Just about. We’re constantly running to practices and doing things. Everything is kind of centered around sports. We still have time for other things. We like to play board games around the house. We try to do enough things not related to sports as a family, but a lot of stuff involves sports.
Q: Do those conversations happen around the dinner table?
A: We never really have a full table unless it’s a holiday or my mom is cooking something up real nice. Besides that, it’s tough because everybody is so busy. And with my older brother and older sister doing their own thing now, it’s understandable.
Q: What’s the best restaurant to go to in Macomb?
A: I think probably Los Charros or Chicks on the Square.
Q: What are you looking forward to about the Showcase?
A: Just having a good time. I played in an all-star game a few months ago, and it’s fun playing with different people and just having fun.
Check out more of the Muddy River Showcase Q&As at the links below:
Payson Seymour’s Blake Schwartz
South Shelby’s Callie McWilliams
West Hancock’s Lewis Siegfried
Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Dance
Central-Southeastern’s Lauren Miller
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