A TEAM FOR THE AGES
VERONA — The WIAA celebrated its 100th boys golf state championships this week.
In that time, the lowest 36-hole score a team had ever compiled was Marquette’s 584 in 2025. The best 18-hole score came from the 2025 Hilltoppers, as well, as they shot a 284 last sea-son.
Those records were wiped away on Monday and Tuesday.
That’s because the 2026 Middleton Cardinals shattered every record in sight on their way to hoisting a championship trophy.
The Cardinals fired an eye-popping, head-spinning, opening round of 9-under-par, 279, Monday that set a new state record and gave them an 18-shot lead heading to Tuesday’s final round. There, Middleton shot a 299, finished with a new state record of 578, and defeated runner-up Kimberly (592) by 14 strokes to win this year’s crown held at picturesque University Ridge.
In capturing the sixth state championship in school history, Middleton became the greatest team in the history of Wisconsin golf and the measuring stick for all teams moving forward.
“At the beginning of the year, we always set a lot of goals, and certainly winning state is the big one,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “It’s never expected, but with this group, may-be more was expected than usual. But there’s no doubt it’s a thrill. It’s an unbelievable thrill.”
Making it even more thrilling for the Cardinals was they captured a championship in Cabalka’s final season. Cabalka spent 36 years in the program — including the last 22 as Middleton’s head coach — and decided to retire after this season.
After Middleton senior Sammy Forslund tapped in for par at No. 18 to make the Cardinals’ title official, his teammates quickly stormed the green. Then the group — led by senior Luke Weiss — found Cabalka and dumped a bucket of water on a coach they both loved and greatly respected.
“It just means so much,” Weiss said. “To finish out his legendary career with a win, there’s nothing better than that. He’s meant the world to us. He just motivated us so hard and helped us through the thick and thin of golf, and it’s awesome to help him, or to help give him a state championship to end.
“For us, we worked so hard for this. It feels like such a relief that all our hard work paid off, and it really means a lot to all of us.”
Fellow senior Berrin Reiter agreed that these were two days none of the Cardinals will ever forget.
“We’ve always set our eyes on this, and now that we finally have it, I think it’s just really, really cool,” Reiter said. “Then to have it on coach C’s last year, I think that makes it even more special. Coach ‘C’ has done so much for everyone in the Middleton golf program and we’ve worked so hard to get to this point. So it’s really special.”
Middleton’s opening round 279 was the most special in state history.
Forslund, a four-year varsity player, made his final trip to state an unforgettable one by firing a first day, 6-under, 66 and surging to the individual lead.
Forslund started at No. 10 and came out red-hot, making birdies on five of his first six holes. Forslund birdied the first four par-4s he played, added a birdie at the par-5, 11th hole and was quickly sitting at 5-under.
Forslund made pars on his next four holes, then made a birdie at the par-5, second hole. Forslund closed with seven straight pars and finished with his second-lowest score in a high school match at 66.
“Sitting there afterwards, it was almost surreal,” said Forslund, who will play at UW-Eau Claire next season. “We all know we’re good and we can play great golf. But to come here and shoot 279, yeah, that’s pretty amazing.”
It sure was.
Reiter, who’s enjoyed a tremendous senior season, was a rock himself, tying his career-best with a 68 to sit in fifth place after Round 1.
Reiter made three straight birdies between holes No. 15-17 and made the turn at 3-under, 33. Reiter then carded eight straight pars, birdied the par-3 eighth hole and parred out for a 4-under, 68.
He finished his magnificent round with four birdies, 14 pars and no bogeys.
“I grew up playing this course, and I know this course like the back of my hand,” Reiter said. “Like when people ask me, ‘What’s your home course? I say, U-Ridge.’
“So I definitely know that’s how I can play. I think that was exactly what I kind of dreamed of and wanted. Humbly, yes, I thought I could shoot that low. But until you do it, you don’t know for sure.”
Weiss had an opening round 72 that featured four birdies, four bogeys and 10 pars. And senior Reis Von Ruden shot a 73 that included three birdies, four bogeys and 11 pars.
Middleton’s record-setting, 9-under par left it with an 18-stroke lead over both Kimberly and Marquette (297). And while the Cardinals were giddy about their round for the ages, they also knew the job was just half done.
“As we kind of all sat there, we reflected, we talked, and I think the motto was there’s still another day,” Forslund said. “Obviously it was great knowing we have an (18)-shot lead. I mean, sitting there was kind of surreal, like a state record is incredible. We all played really good golf, but I mean, obviously you can’t look past the second day.”
Reiter agreed.
“To go out there and shoot a nine-under par, state record for 18 was really unbelievable,” Reiter said. “It was a really cool experience. I know you can’t win on first day, but you can get kind of close.”
And Middleton — ranked No. 1 in the state the final two months — made sure no one came close during Tuesday’s final round.
The Cardinals were steady throughout the second day, posting a 299 to ensure nobody inside this deep and gifted field came within striking distance.
Forslund shot a second day 75 and finished seventh individually at 3-under, 141. Reiter had an adventurous second round with six birdies, just five pars and carded a 74 that landed him in ninth place individually at 142.
Von Ruden, another four-year standout, had another steady round and carded a 74 to finish 16th individually at 147. And Weiss, a three-year varsity player and one of the state’s most consistent golfers, had a second-day 76 and finished in a tie for 20th individually at 148.
And while No. 5 golfer Aaron Gepner’s two rounds of 79 and 78 weren’t used (only the top four scores count), Middleton would have still won the state title if they needed to use Gepner’s score on either day.
“I just can’t be proud enough to coach those kids,” Cabalka said. “I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled for this group of guys, because they are the very best. You don’t have just the very best golfers. You have the very best kids.”
Indeed, this was a group that worked tirelessly to become state champions.
When the weather improved in May — and the sunrise came earlier and earlier — Cabalka had his team practice before school. When school finished, the Cardinals went on their own and practiced, often until the sun began to set.
“I think these two days show how hard we worked as a team all year,” Weiss said. “We grind it. I mean, I think it’s fair to say that we’re the hardest working team in the state.”
Cabalka agreed.
“They came to practice every day and practiced to improve and you don’t get that every year or from every kid,” Cabalka said. “We’ve had some phenomenal golfers that have put themselves out there and worked as hard as these kids, but not an entire group of kids.”
And that led to a season for the ages.
Middleton either won or tied for first place in all but one event it played this season. The lone time the Cardinals weren’t first, three of their top five players were taking AP exams.
Not only was the group remarkably successful on the course, they were just as tight off of it, which played a huge role in their success.
“I think we’re all good golfers,” Forslund said. “But I think a bigger part is how close we are, being able to compete so hard against each other every day at practice. I mean, it came down to our skill, but it also came down to how much we like each other and how much of a brotherhood we have.”
The state of Wisconsin has seen some legendary golfers since the state tournament began 100 years ago.
Monona Grove’s Andy North won two state individual titles and later two U.S. Open championships on the PGA Tour. Edgerton’s Steve Stricker won the 1984 state championship, notched 12 PGA Tour wins and was the U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2021.
Jordan Niebrugge (2012) and Andy Hansen (2006), both of Homestead, and Edgerton’s Owen Wagie (2026) are all tied for the individual state record at 8-under-par, 136. And Green Bay Preble’s Bill Heim (1986-’88) and Glenwood City’s Jeremy Lyons (1997-’99) both won three straight individual state titles.
As the WIAA hailed 100 years of the state golf tournament, Middleton captured more than just the 2026 state title.
They staked claim to Team of the Century honors.
“When you put it like that, that’s pretty amazing,” Reiter said.
Which is exactly how this group of Middleton golfers will be remembered.
Team scores: 1. Middleton 279-299-578. 2. Kimberly 297-295-592. 3. Marquette 297-298-595. 4. De Pere 305-296-601. 5. Hudson 313-294-607. 5. Waunakee 298-309-607. 7. River Falls 300-310-610. 7. Whitefish Bay 305-305-610. 9. Homestead 304-308-612. 10. Oregon 318-300-618. 11. Franklin 309-313-622. 12. Hartford 315-320-635. 13. Edgerton 320-316-636. 14. Kettle Moraine 320-320-640. 15. Slinger 316-326-642. 16. Westosha Central 327-316-643.
Middleton scores: Sammy Forslund 66-75-141. Berrin Reiter 68-74-142. Reis Von Ruden 73-74-47. Luke Weiss 72-76-148. Aaron Gepner 79-78-157.
