March 2014

Tara Franklin has assembled one of the top girls track and field programs in the state.

Middleton’s head coach has her Cardinals at — or near the top — of the Big Eight every season. And Middleton is always threat at the state meet, as well.

So when Franklin says the following, you do an E.F. Hutton and immediately listen.

“I think this is one of the strongest teams we have had in years,” Franklin said. “We have great strengths in many of our returners, and lots of depth in distance and sprints/relays. I see us in the top of our conference and performing very well in the bigger invites as well as the postseason.”

Middleton is coming off a season in which it finished second in the Big Eight Conference, second at regionals and second at sectionals. In all three instances, Middleton was edged by Sun Prairie.

Middleton also finished in 23^rd place at state, and brings back several key contributors from that team.

The Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin, Inc. on Wednesday obtained a temporary restraining order in Dane County Circuit Court barring the City of Middleton from proceeding with the construction of its new Public Works Facility and Outbuildings to be located at 4330 Parmenter Street in Middleton.  

Judge Rhonda L. Lanford issued the order after concluding that the City of Middleton improperly awarded the public contract for the construction of the new Public Works Facility to Newcomb Construction, Inc. of Madison.

On December 12, 2013, the City of Middleton issued a public notice that it was accepting bids for the construction of the new Public Works Facility and Outbuildings, which has an estimated cost of over $9 million.  Nine different contractors submitted bids for the Project, including six contractors who are members of the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin.  

The trio helped define Middleton’s boys basketball program the last two years.

They helped the Cardinals post 27 total wins, countless memorable performances and the school’s first win over Madison Memorial in nearly nine years.

So it was no surprise that Middleton’s Derek Rongstad, Luke Schafer and Max Oelerich each received all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Rongstad, a senior guard, was named first-team all-Big Eight for a second straight season. Schafer, a senior guard, and Oelerich, a senior forward, were both named honorable mention all-conference.

Rongstad, a preferred walk-on at UW-Milwaukee next season, was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection. He was joined on the first team by Madison Memorial center Darrlyn Willis, Sun Prairie guard Nick Noskowiak, Madison West guard Malik Clements and Janesville Craig guard Jerry Ngobi.