Halverson named MHS' boys golf coach

MENOMONEE FALLS — Becky Halverson is busy by nature.

Halverson is the head golf professional and event coordinator at Pleasant View Golf Course. She coaches Middleton’s girls golf team, and she’s working toward obtaining her PGA Class A golf certification.

Last week, Halverson was thrilled to be harried because it left little time to fret.

Halverson interviewed for Middleton’s head boys coaching position on Aug. 11, then waited a few days for the final verdict.

Much to Halverson’s delight, she was offered the position on Aug. 14 and quickly accepted. She replaces longtime MHS coach Tom Cabalka, who retired after leading the Cardinals to a WIAA Division 1 state championship in June.

“I mean, I'm definitely honored,” Halverson said. “I definitely didn't know for sure that it was going to happen. I knew I would have to go through the process, and I knew a lot of people spoke on my behalf, but you never know.”

Halverson was one of five candidates who interviewed for the position with Middleton athletic director Brad Crandell, assistant athletic director Tyree Gamble, and two MHS coaches.

Crandell called the candidates, “one of the deepest pools we’ve had for an opening in quite some time.” In the end, though, Halverson’s head coaching experience, golfing acumen, organizational talents and communication skills put her over the top.

“It was not an easy decision,” Crandell said. “Becky’s awesome and she’ll be amazing, but the other candidates made it really tough.

“We’ve had some openings where it was a no brainer, but I was really excited when I saw the list come in of who applied. We had a lot of great candidates.”

Perhaps, still Cabalka was thrilled to learn Halverson would be his successor.

“Becky will do a great job,” Cabalka said. “She has a deep passion for the game, and more importantly, truly cares about the kids.

“She knows what it takes to be a winner, and she has valuable experience as a long-time and highly successful girls head coach. I’m confident the program is in excellent hands.”

There’s no question, few people know Middleton golf like Halverson.

Halverson, a 1999 MHS graduate, led the Cardinals to three WIAA Division 1 state tournaments during her stellar playing career.

She became Middleton’s girls coach in 2013 and has helped the Cardinals become arguably the state’s premier program. In Halverson’s first 13 seasons, Middleton’s girls have:

• Won three state championships.

• Finished in the top four at state 12 of 13 seasons.

• Reached the state tournament every year.

• Won at least a share of the Big Eight Conference every year.

Halverson also joined Middleton’s boys program in 2015, starting as the freshman coach and eventually becoming a varsity assistant. That experience gave her first-hand experience with the boys program, as well as the girls.

“A lot of times Tom (Cabalka) and I have talked about what I do with the girls, and then I’ve used some of the things he does with the boys, and vice versa. So I think that definitely helps going into this.

“I mean, it definitely makes me feel good being part of the program for so long, and this past year, I really developed a good relationship with all of the guys on the team. It was a fun year, obviously, winning state like we did. So, I mean, like I said, I'm very honored to take that over.”

Middleton’s tradition on the boys side is certainly impressive.

Stendahl became Middleton’s boys coach in 1991, and with Cabalka as his right hand man, the duo helped the Cardinals win four state titles between 1993-‘99.

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 guided Middleton to the state tournament in 15 of his 22 seasons. The Cardinals also won state championships in 2011 and 2026.

“Dewey, and then Tom, built an amazing program,” Halverson said. “I mean, why wouldn't you want to be a part of that?

“A lot of people told me that they were applying, and I know that they wanted to be a part of the program because it is such a great program. It's just seeing what we've done in the past and wanting to continue it.”

Halverson now gets that chance.

Halverson played for Stendahl and coached with Cabalka — two men who are in the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin Hall of Fame. With such highly accomplished mentors, Halverson doesn't plan to tinker with success.

“Since I’ve worked with Tom and I know how we have run things in the past, I don't want to go in and make these huge changes,” Halverson said. “That's not my plan. I want to have a good staff and continue to build on what we already have and continue the legacy.”

That certainly seems likely.

Halverson is on her way to becoming a Hall of Famer herself. She’s a golf junkie, knows the program inside and out, and is remarkably passionate about her craft.

Halverson knows adding the boys job to an already busy golf schedule will be a significant undertaking, but she can’t wait to get started.

“Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I love being busy,” Halverson said. “I love having things to do, and I love the kids. I mean, obviously, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't love what I do.

“I don't have kids of my own, so I say that these are my kids. I'm just super excited, and I hope all of them will be as well.”