January 2014

Middleton’s boys basketball team welcomed the new year with a bang last Saturday night.

Facing arch-rival Verona on Coaches vs. Cancer night, the Cardinals gave their best effort of the season.

Senior guard Luke Schafer led Middleton with 15 points, including a pair of three-pointers, as the host Cardinals roared to a 24-point halftime lead and routed Verona, 55-39.

Middleton, which won its second straight game and fourth in five outings, improved to 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big Eight Conference. Verona is also 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the league.

“The big thing is that every record in this league means nothing,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “We gave Madison Memorial its only loss and Janesville Parker its only win so far in the league to date. Verona is sitting there with some real solid play and is capable of beating anybody on any given night.”

Middleton raced to a 9-2 lead, and the Wildcats never came closer.

Middleton’s boys swimming team finished in seventh place at the 26-team Milwaukee Marquette Invite last Saturday.

Madison West won the event with 259.5 points, while Hartland Arrowhead (213), Muskego (192.5), Chicago-Fenwick (Ill.) (191) and Madison Edgewood (183.5) rounded out the top five.

The Cardinals finished with 174.5 points.

Middleton’s 200 yard medley relay team of senior Hans Kunsch, junior Rory Slattery, junior Lex Peterson and senior Lars Haskins finished second overall in 1:40.14.

Kunsch was sixth in the 100 yard backstroke and Slattery was sixth in the 100 yard breaststroke.

Haskins was sixth in the 50 yard freestyle (22.48) and Peterson was eighth in the 100 yard butterfly (56.38).

The 400 yard freestyle relay team of senior Cooper Green, senior Josh Reddemann, sophomore Jacob Aegerter and Haskins was seventh (3:26.59).

Sports fans around Middleton have come to expect greatness. And why not?

For decades now, that’s exactly what the sports teams around town have delivered.

This year was no different. Here’s one person’s opinion of the top-10 stories of 2013.

1. Grabbing the gold

It was the goal from the first day they stepped onto the courts. A state title.

This, of course, is what every team strives for. But with Middleton’s girls tennis team, fantasy became reality.

The Cardinals defeated Eau Claire Memorial, 5-2, in the WIAA Division 1 state finals. It was the first girls state tennis title in school history.

“It feels awesome to win state,” said sophomore Kaisey Skibba, Middleton’s No. 2 singles player. “Our team has worked so hard all year there’s nothing that feels better than to win state.”

Baylie Gold, who plays No. 2 doubles, agreed with Skibba.

Max Oelerich will be the first to admit it: the 2013 portion of Middleton’s boys basketball season hasn’t gone according to plan.

But with 2014 here, Oelerich and the rest of the Cardinals are feeling pretty good again.

Middleton closed out 2013 with a 74-56 rout of host Madison Edgewood last Saturday. The Cardinals improved to 4-4, and in this season of great expectations, headed to the new year with renewed hope and optimism.

“I think this first half was more of a reality check,” said Oelerich, a senior forward. “We thought the Big Eight would be awfully good, and then we found out just how good it really is.

“But I think we’ll go into 2014 now with a chip on our shoulder. And I think we’re all excited about the direction we’re headed.”

Middleton brought back the overwhelming majority of a team that reached the sectional semifinals a year ago. But the Cardinals have struggled to a .500 start and a 2-4 record in the Big Eight.