Middleton's 'Best of the Best'
State championships in volleyball, swimming and golf.
A state runner-up finish in tennis.
And conference titles in football, volleyball, swimming, basketball, wrestling and golf.
Yowza!
What a year it was for Middleton’s boys sports programs in the 2025-26 school year.
In addition to remarkable team success, the Cardinals had countless individual athletes shine. Middleton also had perhaps its finest group of senior athletes in the nearly 30 years we’ve been running this column.
That made picking Middleton’s ‘Best of the Best’ harder than ever, but we gave it our best shot.
This week, we’ll honor the boys, and next week we’ll award the girls.
Co-Teams of the Year
Boys volleyball, boys swimming and boys golf
Middleton’s boys volleyball and swimming teams both went undefeated — and won state titles.
The Cardinals boys golf team didn't lose when they had their full contingent of players, then had the greatest two days in the 100-year history of the state golf tournament on their way to capturing gold.
So how do you pick just one ‘Team of the Year?’
You don’t.
All three are more than deserving and recognized here as the co-Teams of the Year.
Let’s start with a volleyball group that went a remarkable 39-0 and lost just four sets all season. The Cardinals defeated Germantown, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21, in the state finals on Nov. 8 to at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
Middleton became just the second boys volleyball program in state history to post an undefeated season, joining Appleton North which went 34-0 in 2012. It was Middleton’s second state championship in the last three years, while the Cardinals also finished as state runner-up in 2024.
“I wanted to win that (title) last year, but I think that it definitely fueled this run,” Middleton standout senior outside hitter Caden Van Buren said. ”And we knew we had the team to do it — the exact same starters as last year were on the court this year. So, we knew we had a really good chance at it. We just had to put it together, unlike last year.”
Fellow senior Bryce Stuttgen knew the team was capable of a deep run this season after last year’s success.
“Going into last year, we were all juniors. So, for me at least, when we got there, it was like, hey, I didn’t expect to be here, so let’s do what we can and see where we end up,” Stuttgen said. “But I mean this year … I knew we had something special, and I knew we couldn’t take our team for granted.”
Van Buren, a Loyola (Chicago) recruit, finished with a match-high 20 kills and logged a stellar .459 hitting percentage in the title match. As a team, Middleton had 40 kills and a .304 kill percentage.
Vance Ferry added eight kills for the Cardinals and had a .389 hitting percentage. Jonah Johnson came through with six kills and Will Hoffman had six total blocks.
Stuttgen recorded 30 assists, while Jude Gehrke had 14 digs.
Nine seniors — Van Buren, Hoffman, Stuttgen, Ferry, Porter McGee, Josh Tubbs, Will Schmitt, Clark Lewandowski and Colin Romine — ended their careers by winning a state title. It meant the world to the players to finish on top.
“Honestly, these guys made it look really easy. It’s not,” Middleton third-year coach Dylan Griffith said. “That was one of the things we talked about at the beginning of the season, I think before we even played a game, is that, one, we were in the championship last year and everybody knew that we were returning everyone. And all these guys worked their butts off in the offseason to improve and get better.
“So, to see them kind of obviously respond to that and be so consistent throughout the year — we talked about it all the time (that) every team is going to give us their best. So, I think knowing that and embodying that early in the season really helped kind of desensitize us to these big moments later on.”
Van Buren started to get choked up as he reflected on his final season of high school volleyball.
“It’s just a special group. It’s been a special group for multiple years,” Van Buren said. “And, I think, this program’s given me everything, and I’m really happy to go out on top.”
Van Buren then went from the volleyball court to the swimming pool and helped Middleton win another state championship in that sport.
Middleton won its fourth consecutive state swimming title, posting 306 points to easily outdistance runner-up Brookfield Central/East (248). The Cardinals posted the most points in school history and the most by any team at state since Madison West in 2019 (314).
“I knew this was it,” Van Buren said. “It was going to be over. So I wanted to have fun here, obviously do my best and hope to win it again. So it's amazing, and it's super cool for all the guys to experience again.”
Brookfield Central/East appeared to be a real threat to Middleton’s throne. Based on sectional times and seeds at state, Brookfield was a 23-point favorite over the Cardinals entering the meet.
Instead, Middleton moved up in several races throughout the day and ran away with the title.
“It was exciting, probably the most exciting one I've ever been a part of,” senior Max Carter said. “I feel like with the point seeding going into the meet being super close, it just like added to the excitement. And being a senior, knowing that it's my last one, it's really motivating. You want to go out in the best way possible.”
The Cardinals certainly did that.
Senior Sam Wolf and Van Buren both notched four first place finishes and Carter captured three. Several others had enormous days, as well.
“It was definitely our hardest year that I've been a part of because of how strong that Brookfield team is,” Wolf said. “That only made it so much more fun.
“We were really motivated to get it done. We show up today, and I don't think anybody dropped any points. I think, if anything, everybody moved up, and that's how you win the meet.”
Middleton joined Shorewood (1935-’39), Wauwatosa (1944-’47), Waukesha (1964-’70), Madison West (1982-’85, 1987-’91), Homestead (1998-2001) and Madison Memorial (2011-’16) as the only programs in state history to win at least four consecutive state titles.
And while the Cardinals were dynamic in the water, head coach Wes Lagerhausen was just as proud of how they performed outside the pool.
“We really push and harp things like ethics and understanding how things should be done the right way,” Lagerhausen said. “As much as I coach them about swimming, I also try to make sure they leave here as fine, upstanding citizens, and I've got a boatload of them right now.
“I have been coaching for 13 years, and there really hasn't been a group like this. I know it'll be missed dearly.”
That’s why the Cardinals savored their championship moment as long as possible, fully aware that these most certainly were the “good old days.”
“It was obviously a great four years,” Wolf said. “Like, I can't really ask for a better four years.”
Van Buren agreed.
“The guys we had on the team, that's what I'm going to miss the most,” Van Buren said. “Some of my favorite people and my favorite coaches in the world really helping me fall back in love with the sport. That's what's I'm going to miss about it.
“There's nothing like the nerves here. The pressure, the nerves, the excitement, is not like you get in a volleyball game. You need to rely on a lot of other people here. It's really just you and the water, and you gotta get it done for the collective, so there's nothing like it. I’m retired now, but I’ll remember this forever.”
Middleton’s boys golf team will be remembered forever, as well, following a season and a state tournament for the ages.
The WIAA celebrated its 100th boys golf state championship this season. 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, when they shot a 284 last season.
Those records were wiped away by the 2026 Cardinals, though.
Middleton fired a remarkable, opening round 9-under-par, 279 that broke Marquette’s previous record. The Cardinals followed that with a solid final round and finished with a new, two-day state record of 578 to defeat runner-up Kimberly (592) by 14 strokes.
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,” said Middleton coach Tom Cabalka, who retired after the season. “It’s never expected, but with this group, maybe more was expected than usual. But there’s no doubt it’s a thrill. It’s an unbelievable thrill.”
There were countless thrills for the Cardinals during their memorable state tournament performance.
Senior Sammy 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 went on to finish seventh individually with a 3-under, 141.
Berrin Reiter, who enjoyed a tremendous senior season, tied his career-best with a first round 68 that left him in fifth place. Reiter then had an adventurous second round with six birdies, just five pars and carded a 74 that landed him in ninth place individually at 142.
Reis Von Ruden, another four-year standout, had two steady rounds to finish 16th individually at 147. And senior Luke Weiss, a three-year varsity player and one of the state’s most consistent golfers, 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.
“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.”
Indeed, this was a group that worked tirelessly to become state champions.
When the weather improved in May — and sunrise came earlier and earlier — Cabalka had his team practice before school. When school finished, the Cardinals went out 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.”
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 only 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 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.
Coach of the Year
Tom Cabalka, golf
Cabalka, who began teaching and coaching in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District in 1974, let his golf team know in April that this would be his final season. Then Cabalka and the Cardinals made it one for the record books.
Middleton shattered every record in sight on its way to hoisting a championship trophy.
The Cardinals fired an eye-popping, head-spinning, record-setting opening round of 9-under-par, 279, that set a new state record and gave them an 18-shot lead heading the tournament’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.
To a man, the Cardinals were thrilled to make Cabalka’s final rodeo so memorable.
“It just means so much,” Middleton senior Luke 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.”
Cabalka’s time at MHS was certainly special, as well.
Cabalka first made his mark on the football field, where he was one of the state’s elite defensive coordinators. Cabalka’s work on the gridiron was so highly regarded that he was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame as an assistant coach in 2011.
Cabalka and the late, great Dewey Stendahl also built Middleton’s golf program into a state power.
With Stendahl in charge and Cabalka as his right hand man, Middleton won four state titles between 1993-’99. And Stendahl, the epitome of class, laid the foundation in sportsmanship, integrity and grace that Cabalka’s teams carried ever since.
“Dewey did it the right way,” Cabalka said. “You just can’t say enough good things about the ‘Dew.’ ”
Stendahl, who died in 2012, stepped down after the 2004 season when his health began to slip. Cabalka took over in 2005 and proudly carried on the tradition Stendahl began.
Cabalka helped an endless array of Middleton golfers achieve tremendous success.
Mike Schilling (2010), Emmet Herb (2016) and Jacob Beckman (2021) all won individual state championships. Mitch Johnson, Eric Hagstrom and Sean Murphy all posted top-six individual finishes during Middleton’s 2011 state championship season. A bevy of Cardinals have also gone on to highly successful collegiate careers.
Years later, though, it’s not the birdies they remember the most. It’s the relationships.
And at the heart of it all was Cabalka, who was also inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin Hall of Fame in 2019.
“Personally, ‘Coach C’ was the reason I played golf with so much grit and determination and the reason the mental toughness part of my game became so much better as I went through high school,” said Blake Jens, a key member of Middleton’s 2011 state title team. “There were times that defensive coordinator Cabalka came out at the golf course and that helped me grow a lot.”
Brady Thomas, a 2016 MHS graduate who was part of three teams that notched top-five finishes at state, agreed with Jens.
“What always impressed me was how prepared he made us,” Thomas said of Cabalka. “Before tournaments, we would go over the course hole-by-hole so we knew exactly what to expect.
“But beyond golf, he cared a lot about teaching us how to carry ourselves the right way. This meant being positive and respectful golfers to our playing competitors and to the golf course. Also, after every match, he made sure we thanked the host coach and the pro shop staff for having us out to play. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything I learned from him.”
Middleton, a traditional power in countless sports, is rarely the team casual fans root for. Not many cheer for Goliath.
This year, though, after word leaked that this would be Cabalka’s final season at MHS, the Cardinals and their highly respected head coach became the people’s choice — and they didn't disappoint.
“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.”
And one heck of a coach.
Honorable mention: Dylan Griffith (volleyball), Wes Lagerhausen (swimming), Kevin Bavery (basketball), Aaron Kondrasuk (tennis).
Game(s) of the Year
Football — Middleton 23, Verona 14
Boys basketball — Middleton 71, Madison Memorial 57
Middleton’s football team won the outright Big Eight Conference title, while the Cardinals’ basketball team captured a share of the league title.
And both notched key wins against their arch-rivals to make it happen.
Middleton’s football team defeated Verona for the first time since 2021 thanks to a night for the ages from senior defensive back Patrick Passini.
Passini had three interceptions, returned one for a touchdown, and lifted the host Cardinals to a 23-14 win over perennial power Verona.
Passini dislocated his shoulder on Verona’s second offensive series. But the medical staff popped it back in, then Passini iced it up, found a brace, and came back to record one of the more memorable performances in school history.
It’s believed that was the first time a Middleton player has recorded three interceptions in a single game in at least 30 years.
“My arm doesn't go up a lot right now,” Passini said afterwards. “So it was hard playing with this. But I just iced it, and I just had to tell a trainer, ‘I'm playing in this game.’ ”
On just the second play of the game, Passini showed that this could be a special night.
Passini jumped a quick hitch intended for Verona standout receiver Jackson Connor and intercepted Verona quarterback Landon Lassahn at the Wildcats’ 32-yard line. There was no one between Passini and the endzone, and the star corner raced to paydirt to give Middleton a 7-0 lead just 48 seconds into the game.
“I know they like hitches, like comebacks, and we were sure prepared,” Passini said. “It was remarkable. I mean, I don't think I've ever had that experience ever in my life, and I think it's one of the best I've ever had.”
Passini was just getting started.
Early in the fourth quarter, with Middleton clinging to a 20-14 lead, Verona faced a fourth-and-8 from the Cardinals’ 43. Passini, playing the “field” corner, was left alone on the wide side with the dangerous Connor.
No. 2 quarterback Emmitt Vukobrat, who entered the game after Lassahn was injured late in the first half, underthrew his pass for Connor and Passini intercepted again. Passini then returned the pick 47 yards from the MHS 33 to the Verona 20.
“I saw the quarterback's eyes move to (Connor) and I just ran right under it and was able to get there,” Passini said. “I was on an island multiple times, but I think the defense put trust in me and I put trust in them.”
Passini, who also played hockey and lacrosse, showed his toughness by battling through the injury. He also displayed his tremendous skill by making a bevy of enormous plays.
“He's got a lot of confidence in himself and in our scheme,” Middleton co-coach Tim Simon said of Passini. “And you know, he just let his talent take over.”
Passini might have saved his best for last.
With just under 5 minutes left, the 5-foot-9 Passini was again left on an island with the 6-foot-4 Connor. Vukobrat threw a jump ball for Connor, but amazingly, Passini went up and stole it, then secured the ball with his left arm — which on this night was his good arm.
“After the second pick, I went over to Patrick and I go, ‘Patrick, you are so amazing,’ ” Middleton standout linebacker Tyler Vogt said. “Then, he gets a third one and I ran over to him and gave him a huge hug. I was like, ‘Pat, what is going on with you tonight.’ It was incredible.”
Quarterback Joey Passaglia was left speechless by Passini’s enormous night.
“I mean, I don't even know what to say,” Passaglia said. “I don't have words, just unbelievably awesome. He did an awesome job.”
Middleton went on to finish a perfect 7-0 in the Big Eight and win the title, while the Wildcats ended the year 6-1.
“We haven't won this game in four years,” Vogt said after defeating the Wildcats. “I haven’t beat them since back to freshman year. It's definitely not just another game, so this was huge.”
Middleton’s boys basketball team also defeated its greatest rival — Madison Memorial — late in the regular season to earn a share of the conference title.
The Cardinals opened the second half on a 21-2 run to erase a four-point halftime deficit and went on to a convincing 71-57 win over a Memorial team that would finish second at state less than a month later.
Middleton outscored the Spartans, 43-25, in the second half after trailing, 32-28, at intermission.
“We just turned up our pressure,” Middleton senior guard Andrew Qastin said. “We knew we had to leave it all out there.”
“I thought we had more heart,” fellow senior guard John Grimes added. “We wanted it more. We were a little slow in the first half, but we came out with energy in the second half and we won it.”
Middleton finished the regular season 20-4 overall and 16-2 in the Big Eight, while the third-ranked Spartans fell to 22-2, 16-2.
Grimes led the Cardinals with 19 points, while Carter Parks (13) and Jackson Guerrero (11) both reached double figures, as well.
“I don’t know if it was our best game (of the year),” Cardinals coach Kevin Bavery said. “But it was definitely our best half — that second half. It was just fun for this group to see it all come together when it mattered most.”
Afterwards, Middleton’s players and coaches climbed a ladder and cut down the net to celebrate their second conference title in four years.
“I just love my brothers,” Middleton senior forward Luke Sheehan said. “It feels great. Words can’t describe it.”
Qastin agreed.
“It’s everything,” Qastin said of winning the Big Eight title. “I’ve been playing with these guys since I can’t even remember, since I was so young. It’s good to get a big win at home — we’ve lost some big ones at home.
“To finally do this, especially on Senior Night and for the conference, it feels awesome. All the hard work paid off.”
Senior Athlete of the Year
Caden Van Buren, volleyball/swimming
This might have been the toughest award to pick, as Middleton had arguably its finest group of senior athletes in a generation.
In the end, though, Van Buren was a notch above.
Van Buren led the Cardinals to the WIAA Division 1 boys state volleyball championship in Nov., 2025, and was named the state’s Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association.
Van Buren then notched four first place finishes at the boys state swimming meet and helped Middleton win its fourth straight state championship in Feb., 2026.
Van Buren was also one of just 32 seniors in the state to earn the WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award. The Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club also named Van Buren the Madison Area Sportsperson of the Year.
“Caden is a one-of-a-kind type of player,” Middleton boys volleyball coach Dylan Griffith said of Van Buren. “He has left a legacy of excellence and really showcased his ability to affect the game in every facet along with being a tremendous leader.”
Van Buren was a four-year letterwinner in both volleyball and swimming. He guided Middleton to the 2023 and 2025 state volleyball titles, helped the swimmers win four straight state championships, and won 10 individual state championships in swimming.
Van Buren will attend Loyola University beginning this fall and play volleyball for the Ramblers.
"Athletics taught me accountability and commitment to a common goal,” Van Buren said. “Being part of a team means showing up prepared, supporting teammates, and doing my part to help everyone succeed. My effort affected not just my own performance, but everyone else's — pushing me to be intentional in sports and in the rest of my life.”
During volleyball season, Van Buren was named the 2025 state Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association. He was also named first-team all-Big Eight Conference and the league’s Player of the Year.
Van Buren led Middleton with 367 kills, including 20 in the state championship win over Germantown and 19 in the state semifinal victory over Catholic Memorial. He also led the team with 90 service aces, was second with 159 digs and tied for first with 33 blocks.
In addition, Van Buren finished the year with a remarkable kill percentage of .483.
Van Buren finished as Middleton’s career leader in kills and at, or near the top, of several other career records, as well.
“I don't know that Wisconsin has seen an offensive talent like that in 10, 15 years,” Catholic Memorial coach Chandler North said of Van Buren during the state tournament. “A complete game wrecker, no matter what you do and throw at him with serving strategy, blocking strategy.
“From a physicality perspective, he's got the reach, he’s got the range, he's got dynamism. He swings with enough power, so there's very rarely a defense that can really take that away. So you try to win elsewhere. You try to limit him.”
At the state swim meet, Van Buren won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. He also was part of Middleton’s state championship 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relay teams.
Van Buren helped Middleton roll up 306 points on its way to a fourth straight state title. That was the most points in school history and the most by any team at state since Madison West in 2019 (314).
“I knew this was it. It was going to be over,” Van Buren said of his final trip to state. “So I wanted to have fun here, obviously do my best and hope to win it again. So it's amazing, and it's super cool for all the guys to experience again.”
Honorable mention: Sam Wolf (swimming), Jackson Guerrero (football, basketball, baseball), Tyler Vogt (football, baseball), Joey Passaglia (football, basketball, baseball)
Performance of the Year
Sam Wolf (swimming)
Wolf, a senior standout and an Indiana recruit, made his final trip to the WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving meet a memorable one.
Wolf battled sickness all week and missed some school along the way. Wolf admittedly wasn’t 100% at state, but you wouldn’t have known that watching him fly through the pool and capture four first place finishes.
Wolf finished his magnificent MHS career with 13 gold medals, including eight in the past two years. And he powered Middleton to its fourth straight state championship.
Wolf helped Middleton finish with an eye-popping 306 points, the most in school history and the most by any team at state since Madison West in 2019 (314). Brookfield Central/East was a distant second with 248 points.
“I mean, these are guys I've been with my whole life,” Wolf said. “It's like, it's our last time going at it together in a really serious format. So, yeah, we're all really happy that we were able to pull this one off.”
Wolf began his day by winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1:37.33, edging top-seeded Ryan Wanner of Waukesha West/Mukwonago (1:38.66).
As the swimmers were set to begin, Mötley Crüe’s ‘Kickstart My Heart’ blared through the pool, then Wolf did just that.
Wolf didn’t swim the 200-freestyle at state last year, but led from start to finish this time and captured gold.
“That was my first go at the 200-free in high school swimming,” Wolf said. “I think I was going to try to target the (state) record in that one. And then I kind of got to this week and I started battling with a lot of illness, which I think affected me towards the end of my races.”
Wolf was part of a senior group that included Espen Morner, Ben Cutler Heiderscheit and Caden Van Buren that won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:22.52. The Cardinals also won the 200-yard freestyle last season in 1:21.93.
“We had to move that around a little bit, but I mean, the guys got up and raced, and so I'm really, really proud of that one too,” Van Buren said. “We were trying to win all three relays. We didn't know if we could and there were so many ‘What ifs?’ with all three, but we stacked them in a certain way to have a chance to win all three and then we did it. So that was super cool.”
Wolf then repeated as champion in the 100-yard breaststroke in 54.16 seconds.
“That one hurt pretty bad, I'm not going to lie,” Wolf said. “I usually take that race back a lot faster, but still super happy just getting the win … so super pleased. You know, couldn't ask for more.”
Wolf then capped his tremendous day — and career — when he teamed with Cutler Heiderscheit, Carter and Morner to win the 400-yard freestyle relay. Middleton came from lane two and posted a winning time of 3:02.47, easily outdistancing runner-up Brookfield Central/East (3:04.69).
“That one was great,” Carter said. “It felt good, kind of being in those like wonky lanes, like lane seven and two and winning those races. Yeah, that was a fun one.
“We all split that one really well, and everybody was doing good, and it just felt great. I just like dove in, and I had a bit more emotion on that one. I feel like everyone did too. We were all feeling like it was our last swim ever at Middleton. Got to give it everything.”
Honorable mention: Reed Falk, state wrestling championship at 190 pounds; Alexander Bo, second individually at state tennis; Caden Van Buren, Wisconsin’s Boys Volleyball Player of the Year; Jackson Guerrero, Big Eight Player of the Year in boys basketball; Joey Passaglia, Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year and honorable-mention all-state quarterback.
Co-Breakout Performers of the Year
Cormac Carlson (soccer/basketball) and Carter Parks (football/basketball)
Carlson made quite a splash in his first varsity season on the hardwood and the pitch.
During soccer season, Carlson led Middleton with 21 goals. He was also third on the team with five assists, and his 47 total points led the Cardinals.
Carlson was also named Middleton’s Most Valuable Attacker by his teammates.
“Cormac is a true front runner with a knack to find spaces in between and behind defenders,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said of Carlson. “He can finish from distance, close range, with both feet and his head.
“His abilities are highlighted in his two game-winners. Against (Madison) Memorial he collected the ball from a defender, spotted the keeper was out of position and fired a long shot to catch the keeper off his line. On his winner against Sun Prairie West, he was in full sprint to the perfect spot where he headed home the cross while under heavy pressure.”
During basketball season, Carlson was one of Middleton’s top players by the end of the year. And MHS coach Kevin Bavery joked after the Cardinals’ postseason loss to Madison Memorial that Carlson might not come off the floor next year.
“He just got better and better as the year went on,” Bavery said of Carlson said. “He’s got an incredible future.”
Parks had a sensational sophomore season in both football and basketball.
During basketball season, Parks finished third on the team in scoring (14.3). He also led Middleton in rebounding (7.3) and field goal percentage (57.4%) and was second in blocked shots (0.4).
There were no sophomores named first-team all-conference, and Parks was just one of two sophomores named second-team all-league.
“Carter changed his strength, skills, and confidence significantly from his freshman to sophomore seasons,” Bavery said. “He drives downhill and finishes as well as anyone in the league. He can run the floor, handle the ball full court, post up, and as his perimeter shooting continues to develop he will be a nightmare matchup. He has a nose for the ball in rebounding both ends of the court.”
During football season, Parks was named honorable-mention all-conference after catching four passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. He was also a tremendous blocker.
“He’s a tremendous athlete and he kind of has that “it” factor about him,” Middleton co-football coach Tim Simon said of Parks. “As each game went on he played more and more. He’s not flashy, but he just gets the job done and he really wants to win.”
Tyler Vogt award
Tyler Vogt, football/baseball
Welcome to a new category, one that recognizes an athlete for terrific sportsmanship, attitude and being a great teammate.
For that, Vogt placed the bar that at a level that may never be seen again.
Vogt was a sensational football and baseball player, earning first-team all-conference honors in both sports. Vogt was named the Big Eight’s Defensive Player of the Year in football, as well as the conference’s Inside Linebacker of the Year.
Vogt was named all-Region and honorable-mention all-state in football, and will continue his athletic career on the gridiron at UW-Whitewater.
His lasting legacy at MHS, though, will be as one of the most friendly, jovial and affable young men to ever come through the district.
During football season, Vogt won two coveted team awards for the second straight season — the ‘Best Teammate’ award and the ‘Out of Season Dedication’ award.
Vogt was quick to check on an injured player from another team. He’d ask referees and umpires how their day was going. He was the most respectful, humble and polite player to wear a Middleton jersey in many moons.
Sportsmanship hasn't always been a strength at Middleton. Vogt did his part — and then some — to change the school’s reputation.
“Tyler is the best leader we’ve had since Casey Cramer, and that’s going back 25 years,” MHS co-head football coach Tim Simon said while referring to Cramer, a 2000 MHS graduate who attended Dartmouth and had a five-year NFL career. “He’s just that type of player.
“We had officials came over and asked if No. 45 (Vogt) is for real because he’d be asking them how their day was going. This type of kid doesn’t come around very often. He’s a culture changer.”
Brent Jorgensen, Middleton’s baseball manager, echoed Simon’s sentiments.
“Early in Tyler’s baseball career, umpires would come up to the coaching staff and say ‘that kid is incredible, you are lucky to have him,’ ” Jorgensen said of Vogt. “And over time, those same umpires would show up to games and say ‘Tyler! How are you? What’s new?’ — usually before even saying hi to anyone else.
“Tyler’s ability to make someone’s day wasn’t limited to the field either. In school, he made sure to say hi to everyone he could, ask them how their day was, and made it a point to remember them in the future. It was a running joke among most teachers that Tyler would be late to almost every single class because he was either saying hi to so many people, or they were saying hi to him.
“The same goes in the locker room. Tyler was always the last guy out because he wanted to connect with everyone, ask them how their day was, and so on. He was a great teammate and supporter of everyone. To me, his greatest asset was making everyone in our school feel seen, heard, and cared for.
“He is a once in a generation person whose goal was to improve the day of everyone he interacted with and then in turn, leave a positive lasting impact on his school and community. I’m not sure that I’ll ever get a chance to coach someone like Tyler again, but I’m sure glad I got that opportunity.”
Which is why this space will include the ‘Tyler Vogt Award’ moving forward.
