April 2024

Middleton’s boys golf team finished second at the season-opening Badger-Big Eight Conference Challenge held at Bishop’s Bay on Monday.

Waunakee won the event with a 311, while the Cardinals were second at 313. Milton (328) and Madison Edgewood (345) rounded out the four-team field.

Sophomore Sam Forslund led Middleton and was third individually with a 75. Forslund birdied a pair of par-5s — No. 5 and 11 — and made five bogeys on his way to shooting 3-over par.

Middleton senior Dain Johnson, a UW-Stevens Point recruit, and sophomore Luke Weiss both carded 79s. And MHS senior Charlie Jambor shot an 80.

Waunakee senior K.C. Nickel earned medalist honors with a 74.

• On deck: Middleton has a triangular with Sun Prairie East and Sun Prairie West Friday at Kestrel Ridge Golf Course in Columbus.

They couldn't get on their turf field due to the recent snow.

Practices had been canceled. Any form of a dress rehearsal was a pipe dream.

But Middleton’s girls soccer team overcame those challenges last Saturday and edged DePere, 2-1, in a game played at Breitenbach Stadium.

“The snow set back lots of teams in Wisconsin,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. “So we have things to work out, but so does everyone at this stage of the season. The way the first week went that is also to be expected. But I really liked the way some of the players worked together on the field.”

With good reason.

Despite the fact Middleton was playing together for the first time since tryouts, it found a way to prevail.

Sophie Kasel assisted on a pair of goals to lead the Cardinals’ attack. First, Kasel fed freshman Brooke Lister for a goal in the 31^st minute. Kasel later found sophomore Madalyn Kelm for a goal in the 46^th minute.

 The Bike Rodeo held Friday, March 29 at Elm Lawn Elementary brought many young bicyclists to learn about the rules of the road plus bicycle repair, obstacle courses and swag distributed by the City of Middleton Police Department. 

Twelve months ago, Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen began the season with a long list of questions — and very few answers.

Jorgensen and the Cardinals had eight starters to replace. The pitching staff was devoid of experience. And the everyday lineup was one giant uncertainty.

Jorgensen proceeded to push all the right buttons, several players emerged and Middleton produced a memorable season — highlighted by its first trip to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament since 2016.

Now, one year later, Jorgensen finds himself in a nearly identical position.

Middleton once again lost eight starters to graduation from its 2023 team. There is little returning experience on the Cardinals’ pitching staff. And the lineup will be a work in progress.

Now, the question becomes can Jorgensen once again work his magic and lead a young and inexperienced Middleton team to great heights?