June 2021

LA CROSSE — Jackson Meyer was in search of the triple crown of jumps.

The Middleton senior qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet in the high jump, long jump and triple jump with his sights set on individual titles in each event.

Although Meyer wasn’t able to pull off that stellar feat — while competing in all three events in one day instead of over the traditional two-day event — it was still a memorable day.

Meyer capped a shining prep career for the Cardinals with a runner-up finish in the triple jump, recording a mark of 45 feet, 1.5 inches on his last attempt in the finals at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex last Saturday.

“It was crazy,” Middleton head coach Joe Line said of the rainy conditions that lasted throughout the meet. “He was close to not making finals, but he pulled off a (44-8.25) on his third jump.

Comebacks had become the norm.

Middleton’s baseball team rallied twice in the final days of the regular season and won games where it was down to its last strike.

The Cardinals surged past DeForest in the last two innings of their WIAA Division 1 regional final on June 17. And Middleton stunned Madison Memorial with a five-run seventh inning on their way to an 8-6 win in the sectional semifinals Tuesday.

But the ‘Comeback Kids’ came up one rally short in their bid to reach the state tournament.

A few hours after ousting Madison Memorial, Middleton fell to Onalaska, 2-1, in the sectional finals Tuesday in Baraboo. The Cardinals rallied for one run in the seventh, but left runners stranded on third and second to end the game.

Middleton, which was gunning for its first trip to state since 2016, won 14 of its final 18 games and finished the year 19-10. Onalaska improved to 16-9 and reached the state tournament for the first time since 1994.

MADISON — Quinn Calvin was exhausted at the end of his final sectional track and field meet.

The Middleton senior sprinter and jumper was wearing a wide smile, though, as he exchanged congratulations with his Cardinals’ teammates.

Calvin qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet in the 200-meter dash, long jump and 1,600-meter relay at the Madison Memorial Sectional at Mansfield Stadium last Thursday.

“He made it to state in the long jump as a sophomore and really wanted to get back there in that event,” Middleton boys track and field coach Joe Line said of Calvin, who was 13^th in the long jump at the 2019 state meet.

“He just missed qualifying in the 4x200 relay. He was pretty upset in that. So he really brought it in the 200 and the long jump. He was pretty determined the rest of the meet.”

Calvin wasn’t finished just yet despite completing his three-event assignment.

It was a year they’ll never forget.

They won 20 games for the first time in more than a decade. They chased a conference championship. And they laid the groundwork for future success.
Unfortunately for Middleton’s girls softball team, it came to an end on June 16.

Verona defeated the Cardinals, 13-3, in a WIAA Division 1 regional final stopped after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Middleton finished its first year under coach Brittany Carl with a 21-6 record.

“Verona always pushes us. There is no wiggle room in games against the Wildcats,” Carl said. “Their offense has the ability to change the game with a single swing from any spot in the lineup. That's exactly what we saw happen.”

That’s for sure.

Verona belted three home runs — including a grand slam by pitcher Alyssa Bostley. Hilary Blomberg and Sydney Toman also homered for the Wildcats.
Verona pounded out 14 hits, while Middleton managed just five.