August 2025

Take care of the tradition.

That’s a mantra that Middleton’s boys soccer program has preached for decades now.

That won’t change in 2025. But the task certainly won’t be easy.

Middleton, which has won back-to-back WIAA Division 1 state titles, suffered enormous losses from that group — including state Player of the Year Jimmy Murphy.

The Cardinals return just one starter from last year’s state title team, but coach Kevin Pauls insists the standard is the standard. So when it comes to taking care of the tradition, Pauls believes Middleton will do exactly that.

“I will still reference former player and assistant coach Dave Borslien every time I'm asked this question,” Pauls said. “We've got guys that have been patiently waiting and now it's their turn to shine! We'll reload.”

Pauls knows that will be an immense challenge.

GREEN BAY — Joey Passaglia knew what could happen next. And he knew that the Middleton football team’s 157-mile, 2 1/2-hour bus ride home would feel excruciatingly longer if this kept up.

There were 7 minutes, 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals’ season opener at Bay Port on Aug. 21, and things were, as the Middleton senior quarterback admitted afterward, spiraling.

The Cardinals had just been stopped on a fourth-down play inside the Bay Port 5-yard line — a call that had Middleton co-head coaches Joe Poehls and Tim Simon co-blowing a gasket when the officiating crew didn’t even initially bother to call for a measurement — and the reigning WIAA defending Division 1-champion Pirates had turned that debatable call into an 80-yard Matt Stevens-to-Ethan Orlando touchdown on the next play from scrimmage.

For the first time in more than a decade, Brian Finnel’s schedule was open on the final weekend of the cross country season.

Finnel, Middleton’s boys coach, led his Cardinals to the state tournament 11 straight years between 2013-2023. Middleton fell short of that goal last year, though, finishing third at a star-studded sectional

The Cardinals — who begin their new season Thursday at the Hartland Arrowhead Invitational — hope to start a new streak this fall.

“Missing out on state last year was definitely tough, and it’s been a motivator for both the athletes and coaches,” Finnel said. “This group is probably a little stronger than last year’s team.

“A season ago, we leaned heavily on our depth, but we didn’t quite have that front-runner presence. This fall, we should be stronger up front, which changes the dynamic in a good way. The key question will be how our depth develops behind those top few runners?”

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team rolled past Sun Prairie West, 135-28, in their first meet of the year on Aug. 22

The quartet of Tae Martin, Rian Jost, Brynn Sundell and Sulia Miller were first in the 200-meter medley relay. The foursome of Miller, Clara Kiehl, Addi Haack and Jane Garlock won the 200-meter freestyle, and the team of Abigail Frommelt, Martin, Sundell and Garlock won the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Frommelt won the 200-meter freestyle and the 400-meter freestyle, while Sundell captured the 200-meter IM and the 100-meter butterfly. Garlock was first in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle, while Martin won the 100-meter backstroke and Jost was first in the 100-meter breaststroke.