The Hortonville Polar Bears enter the 2026 football season looking to carry momentum from one of the biggest upsets of last year into a new campaign in the Fox Valley Association.
Hortonville is projected to finish seventh in the preseason FVA standings after ending the 2025 season on a high note with a 17-14 victory over conference co-champion Neenah. The win denied the Rockets an outright conference championship and gave the Polar Bears a confidence boost heading into the offseason.
The Polar Bears return several experienced contributors, including two-year starting quarterback A.J. Pheifer, who showed promise throughout last season, and leading rusher Jack Holdren, giving Hortonville an established offensive foundation.
With key players returning and another year of experience under their belts, the Polar Bears hope to take another step forward in one of Wisconsin’s most competitive football conferences.
The Fox Valley Association preseason rankings have Neenah as the favorite to win the conference, followed by Kimberly, Kaukauna, Appleton North, Fond du Lac, Appleton East and Hortonville. Oshkosh West rounds out the preseason poll.
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