Sweet 3-peat for MHS swimmers
WAUKESHA — Van Halen’s 1986 classic ‘Dreams’ blasted through the natatorium at Waukesha South High School last Saturday afternoon.
“Get higher and higher, straight up we'll climb,” Sammy Hagar screamed. “We'll get higher and higher, leave it all behind.”
It’s almost as if Middleton’s boys swimming team listened — and obeyed — Hagar’s words.
Race after race, swim after swim, Middleton put on a show. And the Cardinals left South with their third straight WIAA Division 1 state title.
Middleton finished with 273 points, easily outdistancing runner-up Verona (175). Brookfield’s co-op team (151.5), Waukesha South/Catholic Memorial (144) and the West Bend co-op (140) rounded out the top-five.
Middleton posted the largest margin of victory since 2016, when Madison Memorial won the meet by 112 points over runner-up Madison West. The Cardinals also won the fourth state title in school history, all coming since 2020.
“With how hard our guys work and how we support each other, I’m never going to say I’m surprised by anything,” Middleton star junior Sam Wolf said. “Obviously we’re all super happy with the outcome. But I’m not going to say I’m surprised by it.”
While the outcome may not have surprised Wolf, teammate Max Carter was somewhat taken aback by the Cardinals’ dominance.
Middleton won last year’s meet by 95 points, but many expected things to be closer this time around. Instead, the Cardinals won by even more.
“I didn't expect this to happen at all,” Carter said. “I don't know. It’s just amazing.”
Amazing is the perfect word for it.
Middleton finished first in eight of the 11 swims, including all three relays. Wolf set a new state record in the 100-yard breaststroke, while the Cardinals also set state records in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
“We put in so much time and effort during the season, but it makes it all worth it in the end,” Middleton standout junior Caden Van Buren said. “And when we get up on the blocks, we know all the work’s been done. Now we get to show it off.”
Fab Four
Middleton’s four standout juniors — Wolf, Carter, Van Buren and Ben Cutler Heiderscheit — led the way.
Wolf had a day for the ages, setting a state record in the 100 breaststroke and repeating as champion in the 200 IM. Wolf also swam the first leg on Middleton’s state record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay team and anchored the Cardinals’ first place 400-yard freestyle relay team.
“I really think that just his ability to be competitive no matter what the stroke is, no matter what the race is, is admirable,” Middleton coach Wes Lagerhausen said of Wolf. “And he does it in a way that’s a pleasure to coach and really gives me reassurance that what we do in our conversations together will end with a great result.”
Carter finished first in both the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. He also swam the first leg of Middleton’s state record setting 200-yard medley relay and the third leg of the Cardinals’ first place 400-yard freestyle relay.
Van Buren won the 50-yard freestyle, despite being seeded third, and was second in the 100-yard butterfly. He also had blazing times on Middleton’s 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay teams that both set new state records.
“I wouldn't say all of this surprised me,” Van Buren said. “But it definitely wasn’t expected by a lot of people.”
And Cutler Heiderscheit swam the anchor leg on Middleton’s state-record setting 200-yard freestyle relay team and swam the first leg of the Cardinals’ first place 400-yard freestyle relay team. He added an eighth place finish in the 50-yard freestyle and was ninth in the 100-yard freestyle.
“Talk about setting the bar,” Lagerhausen said. “These guys definitely did that today.”
Fast start
Middleton kicked off the meet in style when the foursome of Carter, freshman Henry Zanton, Van Buren and senior Colin Gabert won the 200-yard medley relay and broke the Cardinals’ own state record. Middleton finished in 1:30.60, 0.01 seconds faster than its mark of 1:30.60 set last year.
The Cardinals mixed up their relays from sectionals, subbing Zanton and Gabert for Wolf and Carter. The two newcomers more than held their own, too. In fact Gabert’s time of 20.77 seconds in the anchor leg (freestyle) was the fastest of the 24 teams in the event.
“That was my favorite event of the day,” Carter said. “I surprised myself with our time. I didn't even think a state record was in the cards for us. But everybody was going best times or whatever, and it just happened. It was just a great way to start off the meet.”
Van Buren agreed.
“Setting a state record with that group was amazing,” Van Buren said. “I mean, we’ve got a freshman there, a senior that just popped off this entire year and got faster and faster. To win that was incredible.”
Two races later, Wolf won the 200 IM in 1:47.58, nearly two seconds faster than runner-up Noah Van Zuidam of Homestead (1:49.48). That also was nearly ½-second faster than Wolf’s state winning time of 1:47.97 in 2024.
“A little drop, which was great,” said Wolf, an Indiana University recruit. “But you know, obviously just happy with the win. I love competing.”
One of the biggest surprises of the meet came in the following race when Van Buren — who was seeded third — won the 50-yard freestyle in 20.24 seconds. Van Buren edged Neenah’s Drew Gaerthofner (20.29), who was seeded fifth.
Van Buren finished seventh in this race last year (21.15), but this season, he posted the seventh fastest time in state history.
Cutler-Heiderscheit added an eighth place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (21:28) and Gabert was 15th (21.77).
“I saw Drew (Gaerthofner) come to the side of me and I was like, if he’s going to beat me, I’m probably getting like fifth in this,” Van Buren said. “But I just kept my head down and got to the wall barely before him. That was a really fun race.”
Van Buren turned around 30 minutes later and finished second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 48.04, just behind champion Alex Heinrich of Madison Memorial (47.72). Still, Van Buren trimmed nearly two seconds off his time from 2024, when he also finished second (49.71).
“I had a chance. I closed really well on Alex,” Van Buren said. “I took a really long finish, which kind of ruined my finish, and he was digging deep. He’s a great guy, so I’m not mad about it.”
Carter followed that with another upset win for MHS.
Carter was seeded fourth in the 100-yard freestyle, but shocked the field by winning the race in 44.60 seconds. Keaton Barwick of D.C Everest was a close second at 45.00.
Carter shaved more than a second off his previous-best time of 45.64 set sectionals the previous week and his time was the eighth-fastest in state history. Carter’s victory also pushed Middleton’s lead to 142-83 over second place West Bend East/West at the midway point of the meet.
Afterwards, Carter was asked if he surprised himself with his time in the 100-free.
“100%. Yes,” he said. “I was shocked actually. I was just thinking about giving it my all and seeing what happens.
“I knew I had the potential to do something amazing. I didn't know what the field was going to do, so I just set my goal as taking it out as hard as I possibly can and it happened.”
Monster finish
Two races later, Middleton’s foursome of Wolf, Van Buren, Gabert and Cutler Heiderscheit won the 200-yard freestyle relay and set a new state record (1:21.93).
The highlight came when both Wolf (19.88 seconds) and Van Buren (19.77) broke the 20-second mark for the first time.
“That was our goal the whole season,” Wolf said of breaking 20-seconds. “Every time we did that relay I’d be like, ‘All right Caden. Let’s go! Sub-40.’ And we did it today and it was fun.”
Carter followed that with a sensational showing in the 100-yard backstroke, where he ran away from the field and finished with a winning time of 48.67. Carter’s time was the fifth-fastest in state history and left him well ahead of runner-up Max Garbacz of Madison West (49.98).
Although Middleton had the meet secured by then, Wolf wasn’t done making history. The Cardinals’ sensational junior set a new state record in the 100-yard breaststroke and finished first in 53.07, well ahead of runner-up Gaerthofner (54.37).
“I knew it was pretty far into the meet and we kind of had it wrapped up,” Wolf said. “But it was just a good swim. I’m so happy. I can say I’d love to see a 52, but you know, it’s something to keep working for.”
Middleton then capped its magnificent day when the quartet of Cutler Heiderscheit, junior Espen Morner, Carter and Wolf won the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:03.78. That was more than 2 seconds faster than the runner-up foursome from West Bend’s co-op (3:05.80) and marked the fourth straight year the Cardinals won that event.
“I love relays so much,” Wolf said. “It’s so fun. It's a different kind of readiness you have for a relay compared to individuals. Individual swims you get jacked up for and relays you’re like, let’s go. I’m going to be with my boys. Let’s go win.”
Along the way, the Cardinals also received a number of terrific performances from their supporting cast. Zanton was 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.29) and 20th in the 200-yard IM (1:58.20); Morner was 13th in the 100-yard backstroke (52.45) and 14th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.80); Gabert notched a 15th-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (21.77); and freshman Morgan Dorsey was 20th in the 500-yard freestyle (4:57.22).
“I’m pretty sure like everybody dropped time or went their best times today,” Carter said. “I mean, I couldn't really be more happy with everybody’s performance. It was great.”
Lagerhausen agreed.
“Diving into this deeper, with our time drops and overall top-10 best times within the state of Wisconsin, our guys were all over that today,” Lagerhausen said. “It was really cool.”
What’s next?
As spectators headed to the exits and the natatorium emptied Saturday evening, Van Buren reflected on what had just transpired — and what still remains for many of these Cardinals.
Middleton’s current group of juniors will take aim at a fourth straight state title next season, something only three programs have accomplished in the last 50 years. Madison Memorial won six straight titles from 2011-2016, Madison West won five in a row from 1987-1991, and both Homestead (1998-2001) and Madison West (1982-85) won four straight.
When asked about a four-peat, Van Buren simply said: “If that’s not the goal, then what is?”
With most of the Cardinals expected back, Middleton will be an overwhelming favorite to win a fourth straight crown in 2026.
Before turning the page, though, Van Buren wanted to savor Middleton’s 2025 title a little longer.
“This never gets old and it’s never going to get old,” he said. “It’s the same nerves waking up. Same nerves on the bus. Same nerves when you get here.
“Then once you hit the water for the first race, it’s like you got that off your back and you’re ready to go. Then it’s the same old meet, and every year I’m just trying to get a little bit better so we can have outcomes like this.”
Team scores
1, Middleton, 273; 2, Verona Area, 175; 3, Brookfield Central/East, 151.5; 4, Waukesha South/Catholic Memorial, 144; 5, West Bend West/East, 140; 6, Badger Co-op, 118; 7, Madison Memorial, 117; 8, Madison West, 115.5; 9, Neenah, 113; 10, Arrowhead, 108; 11, Menomonee Falls/Hamilton, 96; 12, Franklin, 87; 13, Waukesha West/Mukwonago, 83; 14, Homestead, 68; 15, D.C. Everest, 57.5; 16, Sun Prairie West, 49; 17, Muskego, 44; 18, Racine Case Co-op, 43.5; 19, Hartford Union/Slinger, 38; 20, Appleton West Co-op, 34; 21, Sheboygan North/Kohler, 33; 22, Burlington Co-op, 27; 22, Bay Port, 27; 24, Fond du Lac Co-op, 25; 24, Marquette, 25; 26, DeForest, 23; 27, Hudson, 22; 28, Kenosha Indian Trail, 17; 29, Oshkosh North Co-op, 16; 29, Sun Prairie East, 16; 31, New Berlin West/Eisenhower, 9.5; 32, Appleton North/Appleton East, 9; 33, Eau Claire Memorial/North, 7; 34, La Crosse Logan Co-op, 4.5; 35, Green Bay Southwest Co-op, 4; 35, Marshfield, 4; 37, Beloit Memorial, 1.
