Sports

MADISON — The mission was clear for Middleton’s boys country team moments before the Cardinals lined up to compete at the WIAA Division 1 Madison West Sectional at Lake Farm County Park last Saturday.

Middleton girls had already gotten the day off to a stellar start, securing its first berth at the state meet since 2013.

Now it was the boys’ turn to join the party.

“After they won, we were hyped to win it, too,” sophomore Griffin Ward said.

Despite the absence of their top two runners — Ryan Schollmeyer (calf injury), who could be available for state, and Roman Ystenes (knee), who is likely sidelined for the rest of the season — the Cardinals did what they had to do.

MADISON — Middleton sophomore Lauren Pansegrau continues to get better and better.

Just don’t ask her whether she expects to win every cross country race that she enters.

“I don’t know, but that is the goal after all,” she said with a smile, shortly after winning her first sectional championship at the WIAA Division 1 Madison West Sectional at Lake Farm County Park last Saturday.

Pansegrau covered the 5,000-meter course in a personal-best time of 17 minutes, 55 seconds to lead Big Eight Conference champion and fourth-ranked Middleton to the sectional team title with 32 points.

The Cardinals earned their first trip to state since 2013, which ironically was the last time that both the Middleton’s boys and girls teams qualified for state in the same season.

Middleton’s boys’ team followed nearly an hour later with a team title of its own to make it a clean sweep for the Cardinals.

They are halfway home on their quest for a return trip to the state tournament.

Middleton’s boys soccer team is fully aware, though, that the second half of this journey will be far more difficult than the first.

The fifth-seeded Cardinals downed 12^th-seeded Madison La Follette, 3-1, in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal on Oct. 22. Middleton then defeated fourth-seeded and host Oconomowoc, 2-0, in a regional final last Saturday.

Middleton now heads to top-seeded Verona for a sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. The sectional final is Saturday at 4 p.m. in Sun Prairie, where either second-seeded Madison West or third-seeded Madison East would await.

“Verona may be the toughest challenge leading to the state tourney,” Middleton coach Ben Kollasch said. “They are the No. 1 seed and they have a team loaded with seniors who have tons of experience.

The math is simple.

After each round, the field is trimmed in half.

And by Saturday evening, Middleton’s boys volleyball team hopes to be one of the final eight teams still standing.

The Cardinals, seeded first in their sectional, rolled over Madison East 25-10, 25-15, 25-7 in a regional final last Friday.

The Cardinals advanced to face Madison West in a sectional semifinal that was held Tuesday night. The sectional championship is Saturday at Sun Prairie at 4:30 p.m., where either second-seeded Madison Memorial or third-seeded Kettle Moraine would await.

“We know after Tuesday that the field is down to 16 teams and after Saturday it's down to eight,” Middleton interim coach Justin Haack said. “Our goals haven't changed and that's to be one of those remaining teams after each match.”

Middleton was never in danger against East, a talented but inexperienced team.

Middleton’s girls volleyball team wasn’t ready for its season to end in the regional finals.

There’s a good chance the Cardinals won’t experience such an early exit in upcoming seasons.

Middleton, which fielded a young and inexperienced team this season, reached the WIAA Division 1 regional finals last Saturday. But host and fourth-seeded DeForest edged the fifth-seeded Cardinals, 33-31, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23.

Middleton had defeated 12^th-seeded La Crosse Central, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19 in the regional semifinals last Thursday.

With the overwhelming majority of the roster returning, Middleton head coach Franco Marcos believes bigger and better things await his team.

“Next season looks really good in Cardinal country,” Marcos said. “We will have returning players that experienced long matches.”

Middleton’s win over La Crosse Central in the regional semis certainly didn’t take long.

The challenge was immense.

Middleton’s boys cross country team was gunning for its third straight Big Eight Conference title last Saturday without two of its top runners.

Amazingly, the Cardinals passed this most difficult of tests.

Middleton won the league title with 46 points, just ahead of runner-up Madison La Follette (50) and third place Madison West (58) in a race held at Rockport Park in Janesville.

“It was quite a whirlwind and a very big challenge for the three-peat,” Middleton coach Brian Fennel said. “It was a big team effort and I'm very proud of the boys for this win. They definitely rose to the occasion for today.

“While the times don't reflect it, I thought this was our best team race of the season. We finally beat West and La Follette, who we hadn't beat all year. In many ways I think this is a huge confidence boost for the team and I hope we can carry this momentum moving forward.

Middleton super sophomore Lauren Pansegrau was the fastest girl at the Big Eight Conference cross country meet.

The Cardinals were also the fastest team in the league.

So it all added up for a memorable day for Middleton last Saturday.

The Cardinals finished with 41 points and edged Madison West (44) for the title. Pansegrau also won the individual title, completing the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 5 seconds and nipping Madison West sophomore Genevieve Nashold by 10 seconds.

“It was an incredibly exciting race to watch,” Middleton coach Alexa Richardson said. “The girls were confident going into the race, knowing the work they have put in this season has all been worth it. They focused on bettering themselves rather than dwelling on other athletes performances.”

It paid off.

While Pansegrau was the show stealer, Middleton had several other stellar performances on its way to a title.

Middleton football coach Jason Pertzborn was in a celebratory mood last Friday night.

And for good reason.

Pertzborn had just watched his Cardinals dismantle visiting Madison La Follette, 49-21, in their Big Eight Conference regular season finale. It was Middleton’s fifth straight win and helped the Cardinals land a home game in the first round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs Friday.

“We’re healthy right now and we’re playing good football,” said Pertzborn, who performed a perfect cartwheel for his troops after the game. “And, when we take care of the ball, we’re a solid team.”

The Cardinals finished the regular season at 7-2 overall and in the Big Eight and settled for a share of second-place in the league with Verona. La Follette (6-3, 6-3) dropped into a fourth-place tie with Sun Prairie.

Beat a team one week.

Then turn around and beat them seven days later.

That’s the task Middleton’s football team has been given.

The Cardinals routed Madison La Follette, 49-21, in their regular season finale last Friday. Now the two teams will meet again Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs. Middleton (7-2) received the No. 4 seed and the Lancers (6-3) are seeded fifth.

“You have to remember last week counts for nothing,” Middleton coach Jason Pertzborn said. “They don't spot us with the lead because of it. 

“They will make a lot of adjustments I'm sure, and we need to be sound in what we do. If you take things for granted that's when you get in trouble. When you understand the urgency of the postseason you get focused and get ready and you find a way to win.”

Dangerous.

A sleeper.

The team no one wants to play.

Middleton’s boys soccer team hopes this is the perfect description for them this postseason.

The Cardinals received the No. 5 seed in their sectional and opened the postseason Tuesday against 12^th seeded Madison La Follette in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal. Middleton defeated the Lancers, 6-0, on Oct. 15.

If the Cardinals top La Follette again, they would meet either fourth-seeded Oconomowoc or 13^th-seeded Badger in a regional final Saturday. The sectional semifinals are Oct. 31 and the sectional finals are Nov. 2.

“It is always difficult beating a team twice,” Middleton coach Ben Kollasch said. “La Follette is not a pushover team. They have some players that can be dangerous and we got a bit lucky to get as many goals against them as we did.