MHS swimmers take aim at 3-peat
There are many mornings when the alarm goes off way too early and swimming is the last thing Ben Cutler Heiderscheit wants to do. Instead of hitting the snooze button, though, the Middleton junior races to the pool and gives it his all.
There are several afternoons where Caden Van Buren is tired from another long school day. The Cardinals’ junior heads to swim practice, though, and makes sure he gives 100%.
Why?
“I think we do it for each other as much as we do for ourselves,” Cutler Heiderscheit said. “Swimming is hard. I’m not going to lie. It’s a grind.
“But I definitely do it for my teammates. Even if I don’t want to do it, I feel like I should do it for them. And it’s all good in the end.”
The end is almost here — and Middleton’s extremely tight and unselfish group is one step closer to writing the next chapter in their remarkable journey.
The Cardinals — led by the sensational junior class of Sam Wolf, Max Carter, Van Buren and Cutler Heiderscheit — take aim at a third straight WIAA Division 1 state title Saturday at Waukesha South High School.
Middleton put itself in position to three-peat by winning the Madison West Sectional on Feb. 15. The Cardinals finished with 375.0 points, while Verona was second (354.5) and Madison Memorial was a distant third (268.0) at the 11-team sectional.
Middleton won two of the three relays and had five first place individual finishes on its way to the sectional title.
The Cardinals will now have at least one swimmer in every race at state, where they’ll send all three relays and have 14 individual swims in those eight events.
“Obviously the goal going into every season is to win that (state) meet,” Wolf said. “When we think there’s a chance to win that meet, we’re going to shoot for that.
“But I think this year is going to be our hardest year if I’m going to be honest. But we’re going to do our best, prepare how we should prepare, do all we can as swimmers and individuals. This is going to be a fun one.”
The last two state meets have been a world of fun.
Middleton had a comfortable 77-point win over runner-up Hartland Arrowhead at the 2023 state meet. Then, the Cardinals’ 95-point victory over second place Madison Memorial in 2024 was the largest by any team at state since 2016.
This year figures to be tighter, as Verona and Brookfield have terrific teams, while others could also challenge. There’s no doubt, though, that the Cardinals enter as the team to beat.
“We lost guys from last year, some of our depth,” Van Buren said. “But we’ve still got guys that can contribute this year and I think this group (of juniors) is better than we’ve been. So yes, it’s going to be harder. I don’t think it’s going to be a 95-point win, but it might be.”
Sectional standouts
The Cardinals proved at sectionals that anything — and everything — is possible with this special group.
Middleton’s Fab Four of Carter, Wolf, Van Buren and Cutler Heiderscheit set a new sectional record in the 200-yard medley relay, finishing in 1 minute, 29.45 seconds. That time is faster than the current state record and the Cardinals' quartet is now seeded first at Saturday’s state meet.
“We’re the fastest high school team that ever swam that race,” Middleton coach Wes Lagerhausen said. “That’s something.”
Wolf agreed.
“That was my highlight of the meet,” Wolf said. “I love our relays.”
With good reason.
Middleton’s foursome of junior Espen Morner, sophomore Evan Myers, Carter and Wolf won the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:07.62) and are seeded first at state. And the Cardinals’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Van Buren, senior Colin Gabert, Myers and Cutler Heiderscheit was second at sectionals (1:25.47), just 0.03 seconds behind Verona. Middleton’s quartet will be seeded second at state.
“I think sectionals just gives us confidence going into the state meet,” Van Buren said. “We’ve all been here before and we know what we’ve got to do. We have some new guys that we have to lead. But now it’s pulling those guys with us and making sure they’re confident for this meet.”
Confidence shouldn’t be a problem.
In addition to Middleton’s impressive showing in the relays, the Cardinals had several outstanding individual swims.
Wolf won the 200-yard IM (1:49.40) and the 100-yard breaststroke (55.20) and is seeded first at state in both events. At state last year, Wolf was first in the 200-yard individual medley, second in the 100-yard freestyle, and was part of Middleton’s state champion 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams.
“I’m happy with those swims,” Wolf said of his sectional performance. “Hopefully I’ll be faster next week, but I can’t complain.”
Carter won the 100-yard freestyle (45.64) and the 100-yard backstroke (49.51). He’s now seeded first at state in the 100-backstroke and third in the 100-freestyle.
“I was excited to suit up and go fast and put up fast times,” Carter said of sectionals. “Last year was where most of the stressing was done. But I sort of realized that this isn't the make it or break it meet. If I don’t do great, I still have next week.”
Van Buren won the 50-yard freestyle (20.60) and is seeded third at state. He was also second in the 100-yard butterfly (48.57) and is now seeded second at state.
“We know what the main focus of the season is,” Van Buren said. “But you also can’t mess up today (at sectionals). So that’s always a challenge, being fully locked in for sectionals so we can get done what we need to get done. And then state is when the fun is.”
Middleton had several other state qualifiers emerge from sectionals.
Cutler Heiderscheit was fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (21:40) and is seeded ninth at state. He was also sixth in the 100-yard freestyle (47.72) and is seeded 14th at state.
Freshman Henry Zanton was third in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.46) and is seeded eighth at state. Zanton was also fifth in the 200-yard individual medley (1:57.64) and is seeded 18th at state.
Morner was fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.83) and is seeded 14th at state. Morner was also fifth in the 100-yard backstroke (53.43) and is seeded 18th at state.
Gabert was fifth in the 50-yard freestyle (21.60) and is seeded 12th at state. And freshman Morgan Dorsey was sixth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.01) and is seeded 22nd at state.
“I think the biggest thing this group does is listen and respond well, and respectfully,” Lagerhausen said. “They know I’m here to help you, not hurt you.
“We’re building a team with the values that I expect out of them. And then they do a really good job of responding and reacting to all of the things I try to instill with them heading into the end of the season.”
Junior stars
While the Cardinals have talent up and down the roster, the junior class is already legendary.
Wolf had three first place finishes and a second place showing at last year’s state meet. Carter was part of two first place relay teams, and was also second in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle.
Van Buren was part of Middleton’s championship 200-yard medley relay team and the Cardinals’ second-place 200-yard freestyle relay team. He was also second in the 100-yard butterfly and seventh in the 50-yard freestyle.
And Cutler Heiderscheit was on a first- and second-place relay team at state last year, and also had top-15 finishes in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles.
“I didn't ever think I was going to be on a team with this caliber of swimmer,” Carter said. “I thought my high school experience would be a lot different. But coming onto a team that wins a lot, like this, is really special.”
The Cardinals’ terrific foursome is just as close outside the pool as they are inside it. Carter said the group likes to play pickle ball, go rock climbing, and just stay active.
Those close bonds have made the 6 a.m. practices and the late night swims tolerable, knowing they’re all fighting for the same end result.
“I think this year has been the most fun I’ve had swimming,” Van Buren said. “Like leading a team is a whole different thing than the past years. This can be really hard, but we stay focused and get the work done so we can stay in a position like this at the end of the season.”
Wolf agreed.
“We’re all boys and we’ve been boys for hell, 10 years,” said Wolf, who has already committed to swim at Indiana. “That just makes it more fun. It makes you fight a little bit harder on those relays. You’re not just scoring points for yourself, you’re scoring for your team, too.”
One last hurdle
All that remains now is for the Cardinals to shine on Saturday, like they have all season.
Middleton will be gunning for the first three-peat in school history. And the last team to win at least three straight state titles was Madison Memorial, which won six straight between 2011-2016.
The Cardinals have been waiting for this moment all year, and have put themselves in position to seize the moment.
Carpe diem.
“I think it would mean a lot, and especially for those juniors who were already on the state team (in 2023),” Cutler Heiderscheit said. “To have the opportunity to chase the 4-ring goal is obviously pretty big. Winning state is pretty cool.”
Lagerhausen, the Cardinals’ third-year head coach, has left the state meet with gold each of his first two seasons. And he knows that while this group is different, it's every bit as dangerous.
“Trying to go for three in a row is daunting, to say the least,” Lagerhausen said. “But we’ll do everything we can within our power to do so. We have a target on our back and that’s one thing that might put a little bit of pressure on you. But when it all comes down to it, it’s the times that you put in the pool.”
To date, those times have been outstanding — which is why the Cardinals are on the brink of greatness once again.
“I think we all have it in the back of our minds,” Van Buren said of winning state. “It’s not like we’re talking about it every day. We don't approach every day like we want to win four state championships. It's just the next day. How am I going to get better in this practice?
“Because over time, it’s going to happen. It’s going to unfold. If we do all the things that are asked from us by coaches that know what they’re doing, we’re going to be in a position where that’s going to unfold. Now, hopefully that happens.”
