MHS golfers headed back to state

Things haven’t been easy for Middleton’s girls golf team this fall.

The Cardinals have battled inexperience after losing three stalwarts from their 2025 team. Junior McKenna Utter was sidelined all season with a broken middle finger.

And the Cardinals’ scores were certainly higher than past years.

On Monday, though, Middleton did what it’s done every year since 2012. The Cardinals shined when the pressure was turned to high.

Middleton captured second place at the WIAA Division 1 DeForest Sectional held at Lake Windsor Country Club and clinched a berth at the state tournament for a 15th straight year. The top two teams at the eight-team sectional advanced to state, which will be held Oct. 12-13 at University Ridge Golf Course.

DeForest won the sectional with a 329 team score, while the Cardinals finished second with a 340. Oregon (350), Tomah (351) and Waunakee (351) rounded out the top five.

“I don’t think anybody expected us to get through,” said Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “And if you would have asked me a week ago, I was hesitant, as well.

“But going into (Monday), when I saw the way the girls were, I changed my tune. The energy was different and they were ready to go. We had a practice round as a team (on Sunday) and they were really focused. We had a game plan and they stuck to the plan. I’m extremely proud of the way they stuck to everything.”

With good reason.

Middleton senior Addison Schnarr and junior Stela Flad — the Cardinals’ leaders all season — were rock solid again.

Schnarr carded an 80 and finished in a tie for third place individually. Schnarr birdied the par-5, second hole on her way to a 4-over-par, 40, on the front nine. Then she played a steady back nine where she made five pars and fired another 40.

Flad was a model of consistency all day, making 10 pars and never scoring higher than a bogey. Flad shot a 40 on the front nine, a 40 on the back and tied for third with Schnarr.

“We knew that those two would go out and do what they do best,” Halverson said of Schnarr and Flad. “We knew we could count on them to go out and play their own game. We didn’t have to worry too much about them.”

Middleton also got a huge boost from sophomore Addison Litscher, who shot an 89 that included a 43 on her back nine and finished in 18th place out of 48 golfers.

Litscher played in just a couple of varsity matches this season. But she closed the year strong, emerged from a playoff on Oct. 1, and recorded her career-low when the stakes were at their highest.

“I wanted to give her a chance to see what she could do,” Halverson said of inserting Litscher into the lineup. “It really paid off.”

The Cardinals’ greatest lift, though, came from the return of Utter, who broke her finger in late-July, then was cleared to play last week. Utter also advanced through a playoff on Oct. 1 to secure her spot in the lineup and delivered a steady round throughout.

“I don’t think anyone expected McKenna to come back and help us,” Halverson said. “The girls told me some of the teams seeing McKenna on the driving range surprised them, and that was definitely good for us. It was a morale boost, for sure. We were hoping for this all season long.”

Utter, who averaged 43 per nine during her sophomore season, shot a 44 on the front nine, survived a triple bogey at No. 15 on the back, and recorded the Cardinals’ fourth best score with a 91. That was good for 22nd place overall.

“She did exactly what we needed her to do,” Halverson said of Utter. “We were hopeful she would be in the low 90s coming back after not playing for quite a while. She missed some putts I know she wanted to have, so we know she’s got lower scores in her. But getting her back in the lineup was huge.”

Middleton secured its 27th trip to state, the third-most in state history. The Cardinals have won four state titles since 2009, but certainly won’t be a favorite this time around.

Three-time defending state champion DSHA is the team to beat again, while Bay Port and DeForest are the most likely challengers.

But after an up and down season, Middleton is just thrilled to be finishing its season at University Ridge.

“Getting to state as a team is great,” Halverson said. “Anything from here is a bonus.”

TOMAH REGIONAL

Survive and advance.

Middleton did just that at the WIAA Division 1 Tomah Regional on Sept. 30.

The Cardinals finished fourth at the eight-team regional, as the top four teams advanced to sectionals.

DeForest won the regional with a 331 team score, while Tomah (338), Waunakee (342) and Middleton (349) also advanced to sectionals.

Junior Stela Flad led the Cardinals with a 78 and finished third overall. Flad made three birdies and eight pars to power MHS.

Senior Addison Schnarr shot an 85 and was ninth individually, senior Nora Kuhl shot an 89 and sophomore Josie Day carded a 97.