November 2017

Thu
09
Nov
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MHS swimmers gunning for state title

It was supposed to be the greatest day in the history of Middleton’s girls swimming and diving program.

The Cardinals were in the midst of winning the WIAA Division 1 state championship last November. Middleton’s dynamic group became the first in school history to leave the UW-Natatorium with a state title.

But as the state meet unfolded, Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka and the rest of the Cardinals didn’t feel like most teams that capture gold.

“Honestly, it felt kind of yucky,” Cabalka said.

Yucky? Really?

To hear Cabalka and her team tell it, the championship was remarkable. They’ll cherish it forever.

But the meet itself was anything but perfect.

There was squabbling. Girls were struggling with the pressure of the moment. And while the Cardinals left with a championship, the meet itself was far from enjoyable.

Compare that to 2015 when Middleton came out of nowhere, surprised the field and finished second at state.

Wed
08
Nov
Tue
07
Nov
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Guts and glory on display at the White Collar Boxing Tournament

Just before the fights began on Saturday night, a grandmother who was about to see her granddaughter get rocked by several hard right hands was at the breaking point. “I’m so damned nervous!” she cried out amid the din of the Red Mouse sports bar in Cross Plains.

As it turned out, she had nothing to worry about. Because boxing is a sport in which even the losers emerge with their honor glinting beneath the bright lights. Her granddaughter lost the fight, but she gained the crowd’s respect when she refused to go down, and refused to quit, even after a flurry of punches turned her knees to Jell-O.

This was the second annual White Collar Boxing Tournament, a fundraiser for the esteemed Bob Lynch Boxing Foundation. Twenty people entered the ring. Half of them won. Half of them lost. All of them learned what they were made of. They went home proud of their trophies and their various hematomas.

Sun
05
Nov
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Hodson earns all-state honors

Payton Hodson worked, grinded and improved.

The result is Middleton’s girls golf standout had an unforgettable senior season.

Hodson averaged 77.30 and was recently named the Player of the Year in the Big Eight Conference. In addition, Hodson earned first-team all-state honors.

Middleton sophomore Kate Meier also earned first-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-state honors. Senior Grace Peterson was named second-team all-Big Eight and honorable-mention all-state, while senior Allison Richards earned honorable-mention all-conference honors.

Hodson, a three-year varsity player and a Valparaiso recruit, improved her average by 7.43 shots over the last three years. Hodson finished in the top-five of all but two tournaments this year and tied for fifth at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

Fri
03
Nov
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Boys cross country team wins state title

Caleb Easton crunched the numbers in his head.

As Middleton’s boys cross country standout totaled the results from last Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 state meet, Easton figured the Cardinals would be exiting Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids with a championship trophy.

It wasn’t until those results were officially posted, though, that Easton and his teammates could breath a giant sigh of relief.

“I think really the highlight was when we saw the scores and saw that we won,” Easton said. “It was just a great time.”

And a great performance.

Middleton finished with just 76 points to easily outdistance runner-up Stevens Point (177). South Milwaukee (191), Monona Grove (197) and Sun Prairie (203) rounded out the top-five.

Middleton won its first state title since 1992. And the Cardinals’ 101-point margin of victory was the largest in state history at any level.

Fri
03
Nov
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Lepage brothers shine for MHS

Mattie Lepage doesn’t have a single kill or assist for Middleton’s boys volleyball team this season.

He hasn’t recorded an ace, block or a dig.

But Lepage has become a vital part of Middleton’s sensational squad, which clinched a fifth straight trip to state Thursday night. And the Cardinals’ junior manager is the energetic, vivacious and spirited leader Middleton simply can’t do without.

Lepage, the younger brother of Cardinals’ standout setter Andrew Lepage, was born with Down’s syndrome. While that has slowed Mattie in some areas, his love of volleyball isn’t one of them.

Mattie has an unparalleled zest and gusto for volleyball — as well his managerial duties. And his enthusiasm has been an important ingredient in Middleton’s outstanding season.

Wed
01
Nov
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Hurricane devastation hits close to home for local church

To the membership of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Middleton, the devastation in Puerto Rico from hurricanes Irma and Maria wasn’t just television news. It’s a personal story about people who they know and have developed a relationship with through a sister-church partnership since 2013.

Well before the hurricanes, some of St. Luke’s members traveled to Divino Salvador, the island church with more than 240 members.  They’ve shared worship, broken bread, sung together and become friends with the pastor and congregants there.

Between hurricanes, Pastor Gabriel Nanco wrote to St. Luke’s to let them know how they were faring. 

 

“Dear family in Wisconsin,

 

I am sending you this message to let you know how we are doing during the imminent passing of Hurricane Maria through Puerto Rico.

Wed
01
Nov

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