November 2013

Town of Middleton residents last week unanimously approved a 2014 property tax levy that is slightly larger than this year’s and a road budget that is a little less than the current year’s.

Approximately 15 residents attended the budget hearing and approved a $2.834 million property tax levy, up from the $2.775 million levy they approved in November 2012. They also approved a $1.071 million road budget, which is down from the $1.084 million approved a year ago.

The property tax levy is imposed this year and due by Jan. 31. Many property owners pay by the end of the current year to obtain a deduction on their itemized income tax returns.

Unlike residents of a city or village, town residents, and not their board of supervisors, are empowered to set the total amount the town can tax property and spend on road maintenance and improvements.

Many teams across the state would love the type of girls basketball season Middleton enjoyed last winter.

The Cardinals went 15-9 overall. Middleton was a respectable 12-6 in the Big Eight Conference and finished fourth. And the Cardinals reached the WIAA regional finals, where they fell in overtime to Madison La Follette.

All in all, it was a solid season.

But the Cardinals have become accustomed to being more than solid. They’ve been special.

And this year’s outfit could be exactly that.

Middleton returns the majority of its key players from a year ago and picked up a talented foreign exchange student. Now, the Cardinals are aiming to move back atop a league they had dominated for years.

That journey begins Friday, when the Cardinals face Oak Creek — the No. 1 team in the state — at 7:45 p.m. at the Brookfield Central Thanksgiving Shootout.

A Big Eight Conference title.

A sectional crown. A trip to the state tournament for the first time since 2009.

Almost everything came up roses for Middleton’s boys volleyball team this year. And not surprisingly, the Cardinals dominated the league’s all-conference teams, as well.

Middleton senior outside hitter Andy Keeler, senior setter/opposite hitter Connor Zimmick and senior libero Colin Gloudemans were named first-team all-conference. Senior middle hitter Noah Kern was named second-team all-league, while junior outside hitter James Caldwell, senior setter Robbie Drachenberg and senior outside hitter Alex Klubertanz were all named honorable-mention all-conference.

Keeler was named the league’s Player of the Year, while Middleton coach Ben White was named the conference’s Coach of the Year.

“Fun year,” White said. “We played our best volleyball at the end of the season and that’s all you can ask.”

The players have changed — even more than expected.

There will be new lines, rotations, and combinations.

But despite some heavy turnover, one thing won’t change inside Middleton’s hockey program — and that’s expectations.

The Cardinals began their year Tuesday night against Beloit Memorial. And despite a bevy of personnel changes, Middleton will be aiming high once again.

“We have high expectations,” said Middleton veteran co-coach Steve Libert. “We expect to compete for conference titles and state.

“With a large turnover from last year there will be some growing pains, but we have the capability. We have a lot of work to do.”

Middleton went 18-6 last season and finished second in the Big Eight Conference at 11-3. The Cardinals reached the sectional semifinals, before losing to Madison Edgewood.