June 2014

Wed
11
Jun
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Golfers settle for 4th at state

VERONA — Every year, Middleton boys golf coach Tom Cabalka spends his winters in Arizona.

And when Cabalka races back every March to coach the Cardinals, many wonder why?

Here’s why.

For veterans like Josh Haunty and Charlie Stankiewicz. For up-and-coming stars like Brady Thomas, Joey Levin and Emmet Herb.

That quintet assembled another terrific season for Middleton’s dynamic golf program and finished fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament held Monday and Tuesday at University Ridge. And even though the Cardinals fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a state title, they produced a year to remember — and one Cabalka will always hold dear.

“It’s guys like this that keep me coming back,” Cabalka said. “This was a really, really special group.”

Sun
08
Jun
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Winters, Cardinals shine at state

When Ernest Winters crossed the finish line, he immediately entered a time warp.

Middleton’s senior track and field standout had just finished first in the coveted 100-meter dash at the WIAA Division 1 state meet at UW-La Crosse last Saturday. With it, Winters captured the tag of Wisconsin’s fastest high schooler.

But instead of focusing on the here and now, Winters flashed back to 2011.

“When I crossed that line I couldn’t believe it,” Winters said. “All I could think about was the first day of track freshman year because that's when it all started. Very humbling experience.”

And a pretty remarkable one, too.
In addition to winning the 100, Winters was also third in the 200. Winters also anchored Middleton’s 400-meter relay team that finished second.

Cardinals senior Andy Keeler also had a big weekend, finishing second in the high jump with a leap of 6-feet, 6 inches.

Sun
08
Jun
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Girls track team ninth at state

 

Their quartet was battered and bruised, wounded and wobbly.

But Middleton’s 3,200-meter relay team had the resolve and determination to never give up. And that mantra paid off in spades last weekend.

At the WIAA Division 1 girls state track and field meet held at UW-La Crosse, Middleton’s 3,200-relay team finished second overall. That performance helped spark the Cardinals to a ninth place finish as a team.

Middleton’s 3,200 was certainly one of its most talented outfits — and proved that in La Crosse. But the Cardinals overcame a series of injuries to make it happen, which made the final results even sweeter.

“I'm so incredibly proud,” said Middleton junior Rachel Wians, who ran the first leg of the 3,200. “We faced some injuries midway through the season, but we were lucky enough to have enough depth to put together a team and still qualify.”

Sun
08
Jun
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Baseball Cardinals two steps from state

With ace Kasey Miller laboring on the mound, Middleton’s baseball team needed to step it up offensively.

And, boy, did it ever.

The Cardinals banged out 16 hits and used an eight-run third inning to overwhelm Waunakee 14-4 in five innings in a WIAA Division 1 regional final in Middleton Thursday.

“One through nine we’re such a solid team,” Miller said. “We’ve been waiting for a game like this. Just for us to break out and everyone put it all together in one game was nice.”

Miller wasn’t feeling well from the get-go and he struggled on the mound, allowing four runs on four hits with a pair of walks in just three innings of work.

“Walking out for the second (inning) my stomach kind of turned and, even in the warmups, you could tell it wasn’t on,” Miller said.

Miller eventually gave way to lefty Garrett Knutson and Knutson held the Warriors (12-13) scoreless over the final two innings.

Sat
07
Jun
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Middleton's doubles teams shine at state

Time and time again, they were expected to wilt.

To succumb to the higher seed and go quietly into the night.

But Brian Bellissimo and Xavier Sanga didn’t like that blueprint. So Middleton’s tennis standouts tore it up and made themselves a new one.

Bellissimo and Sanga — who entered the WIAA Division 1 state tennis tournament unseeded — had a weekend to remember. Middleton’s duo defeated three teams seeded in the top-10 and stormed to a sixth place finish.

“We were really happy to be there and we just played really loose,” said Sanga, a freshman. “The whole time we played good solid tennis, and some great things happened.”

Bellissimo agreed.

“We were playing loose and just having a lot of fun,” said Bellissimo, a sophomore who played singles a year ago. “And as we kept winning, our confidence kept going up and up.”

It was a great weekend for two Middleton doubles teams.

Sat
07
Jun
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Van Emburgh settles for third

If it’s going to be one-and-done for Jake Van Emburgh, this isn’t what he envisioned.

Middleton’s freshman tennis phenom had one thought on his mind heading into the WIAA Division 1 state tennis meet: winning a title.

Van Emburgh’s quest fell short, though, when he lost to Brookfield East sophomore David Horneffer, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the state semifinals last Saturday.

Van Emburgh bounced back and toppled Homestead’s Danny Coran, 6-2, 6-2 in the third place match. Meanwhile, defending state champion Felix Corwin defeated Horneffer — his teammate — for the state title, 6-3, 6-3.

“Having beaten (Horneffer) so many times in a row, I overlooked the player he was a little bit,” Van Emburgh admitted afterwards. “On top of that I was not 100 percent healthy during that match … things I would rather not discuss.”

Thu
05
Jun
Thu
05
Jun
Wed
04
Jun
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Middleton golfers storm back to state

BARABOO — Russell Wilson may have said it first. But imitation is certainly the sincerest form of flattery.

And Middleton’s boys golf team has no problem impersonating Seattle’s Super Bowl winning quarterback.

Shortly before the 48th Super Bowl in February, Wilson uttered the now famous phrase, “Why not us?”, then led his team to a memorable rout of Denver.

The Cardinals’ golfers have adopted that same phrase this spring, and a championship could soon be in their future, as well.

Middleton rolled to the title at Tuesday’s WIAA Division 1 Baraboo Sectional held at the Baraboo Country Club. The Cardinals shot a stellar 305 to finish first, while Holmen was second at 309 and also earned a trip to state.

Middleton, which has won four state titles since 1997 — will be making its first trip to state since the 2011 team captured gold.

Tue
03
Jun
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Van Emburgh guns for state tennis title

OCONOMOWOC — He had a racket in his hand at the tender age of three.

By the time he was six, he was practicing 90 minutes a day.

Today, he’s one of the country’s elite tennis players in his age group.

After just one season, freshman Jake Van Emburgh is arguably the best tennis player in the history of Middleton High School. And by the end of this weekend, there may be no argument about it.

Van Emburgh will take aim at the WIAA Division 1 individual state title Thursday through Saturday at Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Van Emburgh (21-1) is the No. 2 seed, behind only defending champion Felix Corwin of Brookfield East.

No Middleton player has ever won an individual state tennis title.

“That’s certainly the goal and one of the reasons I came out for high school tennis,” Van Emburgh said after winning the No. 1 singles title at the Oconomowoc Sectional last Thursday. “Hopefully I can make it happen.”

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