October 2013

Madison West was the perennial power to dethrone.

Sun Prairie was the hard charger, looking to crash the party.

But Middleton’s girls never blinked. And because of it, the Cardinals won the Big Eight Conference meet Saturday at Rockport Park in Janesville.

Middleton finished with 40 points, while Sun Prairie was second at 49 and West was third with 57.

“I think the conference meet was a testament to our girls’ experience,” Middleton co-coach Isaac Mezera said. “They went into the meet confident, knowing that if they ran their “pack attack” race strategy they would have the opportunity to win the meet. Then, when the race came and they needed to pass one or two more runners, they made it happen.”

Middleton sophomore Sam Valentine had a terrific race and finished second overall in 14 minutes, 59 seconds. Sun Prairie’s Katie Hietpas won the 4,000-meter run in 14:41.

This one will sting — perhaps until the soccer balls are pulled out for the 2014 season.

Middleton’s boys soccer team met Madison West in a WIAA Division 1 regional final last Thursday. And the upstart Regents toppled the Cardinals, 2-1.

Middleton finished the year 11-8-1 in Ben Kollasch’s first season as head coach.

“This was a really tough loss,” Kollasch said. “We have struggled in big games throughout the season and we knew that we would have to win big games. We had thought we were ready to win a tough game down the stretch, but we just ran out of time.”

Middleton had defeated West, 1-0, on Sept. 17 during a game that was played in a downpour. Neither team could show off its speed or physicality in that contest.

But this game was much different.

West’s Woo Jin Jeon had a goal and an assist as the Regents built a 2-0 lead by the 27^th minute.

Franco Marcos is the eternal optimist.

But after Marcos — Middleton’s girls volleyball coach — saw the postseason seeds, he was rosier than ever.

The Cardinals earned the No. 3 seed in their 15-team sectional. And Marcos believes his team has a great chance to make a deep playoff run.

Middleton opens the postseason by hosting 14^th-seeded Holmen in a regional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m.

“I am happy with the seed and believe that we could get to state if we take care of the ball and finish plays,” Marcos said. “I think that we are so much better than we were at this time last year and it is going to be fun.”

Sun Prairie is the No. 1 seed, while Waunakee, Middleton, DeForest and Verona round out the top five. La Crosse Central is the No. 6 seed, followed by Madison La Follette, Tomah, Monona Grove, Baraboo, Madison Memorial, Madison West, La Crosse Logan, Holmen and Madison East.

VERONA — Eventually, perspective will rule the day.

Middleton’s girls golf team will look back on the season that was, celebrate their numerous accomplishments, and appreciate just how terrific their run was.

But late Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals weren’t ready for that.

Middleton, one of the favorites to bring home the WIAA Division 1 state title, finished third at the two-day event held at University Ridge Golf Course.

Arrowhead shot a two-day total of 638, the second-lowest score in Division 1 history, to win the title. Verona was second at 648, while Middleton was third at 655.

The Cardinals, ranked No. 1 in the final state poll, fully expected to bring home a trophy that goes to the first and second place teams. And when that didn’t happen, the tears flowed like Niagara Falls.

“I’m upset,” said Cardinals sophomore standout Loren Skibba. “We were just all hoping for better.”

Senior Sheenagh Cleary agreed.