Sports

MADISON — When it was determined an hour before game time that star senior running back Bryce Falk would miss last Thursday’s Big Eight Conference game against Madison Memorial due to an injury, the Middleton Cardinals opted to unleash their not-so-secret weapon.

And the host Spartans had no answer.

Middleton senior quarterback Gabe Passini ran for 198 yards on 19 attempts and scored three touchdowns to spark the Cardinals’ 31-20 victory over Memorial at Mansfield Stadium.

Passini, who also completed 11 of 20 passes for 115 yards, tormented Memorial all evening.

“If he doesn’t have that type of performance, we don’t win this game tonight,” Middleton co-head coach Tim Simon said of Passini.

Cardinals’ senior starting left tackle Hudson Cleary agreed.

“His running is something special. It’s like something I’ve never seen,” Cleary said of Passini. “It seems like every time he gets hit, he gets another five yards.

Make it a perfect 10.

Middleton’s girls golf team won a 10^th straight Big Eight Conference regular season title last week, rolling to a perfect 9-0 mark in conference dual meets.

During Middleton’s decade of dominance, it’s posted a 90-0-1 record in conference dual meets.

“That says a lot about the girls that have come through this program,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “I really can't say enough about the program that Dewey Stendahl started and was continued by Bill Curtin and Jeff Kenas.

“I am proud to continue building on what they had started and be able to be a part of it myself. I'm so proud of all the girls that have played for us and the commitment they have given to the program.”

The Cardinals also finished in third place at the 17-team Janesville Parker Invite last Saturday.

Middleton and Verona.

Verona and Middleton.

These two swimming giants have gone head to head multiple times this season, exchanging wins along the way. And the super powers could eventually be the two favorites at the state meet.

Last Saturday provided the latest battle, as Verona edged the Cardinals, 329.5-324.5, at the star-studded Waukesha South Invite. Rhinelander (233), Arrowhead (222) and Waukesha West/Catholic Memorial (202) rounded out the top five at the 16-team invite.

“The Waukesha meet was another great competition with Verona and we just missed out on winning the meet,” Middleton coach R.J. Leiferman said.

Per usual, the Cardinals and Wildcats were neck-in-neck throughout and Middleton received several terrific swims along the way.

During their 12 year stretch of greatness, it’s been rare when Middleton’s boys volleyball team has been challenged by a Big Eight Conference foe.

The Cardinals — who haven’t lost a conference match since Sept. 29, 2011 — have largely rolled over each and every Big Eight team they’ve come across.

Last week, though, Middleton was given a stern test.

The Cardinals were challenged by host Madison Memorial, but showed grit and determination on their way to a 25-20, 16-25, 30-28, 25-13 win on Sept. 13.

Middleton, ranked No. 4 in the state, pushed its conference winning streak to 92 straight matches with the victory over the eighth-ranked Spartans.

“Our match against Memorial was great for us,” Middleton coach Dylan Griffith said. “We knew going in that Memorial was having a great season and beat some pretty good opponents from around the state.

Middleton’s girls volleyball team split a pair of matches last week.

Janesville Craig defeated the Cardinals, 26-28, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14, on Sept. 12. Middleton rebounded, though, with a 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 25-15 win over Madison West on Sept. 14.

Middleton coach Ben White wasn’t thrilled how his team played against the visiting Cougars.

“We felt like we took a bit of a step back during this match,” White said. “We had a few too many unforced errors where we watched the ball land with no one going for it and we weren't aggressive enough on our third hits to get Craig out of system.

“Craig controlled the tempo for most of the match. We also struggled with our serve receive, which made it difficult for our setters to run a consistent offense.”

Keaten Davis led Middleton with 15 kills, while Sadie Newcomb had 11 kills and 15 digs. Haley Stoffregan had 17 assists and four aces, while Andrea Wipperfurth had 16 assists, four aces and 19 digs.

They still have half of the Big Eight Conference schedule left to navigate.

But Middleton’s boys soccer team has put itself in terrific position to win a second straight Big Eight Conference title.

The Cardinals rolled past Madison West, 3-1, on Sept. 14 and improved to a conference-best 4-0 in the Big Eight. Sun Prairie West is also 4-0.

“We're sitting 4-0 in conference play which is great, but we still have a lot of the season left,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said. “We always wear that target so we know we're going to get everyone's best. Nothing is a given and we'll just keep getting ready for the next game.”

The Cardinals were certainly ready for this game.

Pauls has been stressing the importance of the first goal — and his team keeps listening.

Middleton’s girls cross country team finished second at the Big Eight Conference Grade Level Challenge on Sept. 12.,

“The team had a fantastic showing, losing to a pretty impressive Madison West team,” Middleton co-coach Kelly Julian said. “This race is unique in that athletes race against their grade level. That often opens up opportunities for younger classmen to score points, and potentially place.”

That was certainly the case for freshman Josephine Schiferl, who finished second among freshman race and third overall, completing the 5,000-meter race in 21 minutes, 52.6 seconds.

“She looked relaxed and confident, especially for a freshman runner,” Julian said of Schiferl.

Rory Rhodes was fourth among seniors (22:26.2), while Avery Tiller was sixth among juniors (21:38.6). Morley Schroeder (22:52.5) and Caroline Blust were sixth and seventh (23:21.7) respectively among seniors, while and Olivia Strasia was ninth among juniors (22:14.5).

All of the arrangements were in place for one heck of a party.

The first two phases of the Borden Athletic Complex had been completed and were on display for the entire community to see.

Middleton welcomed its arch-rival to town. And 4,000 fans turned out for the bash.

Then Verona spoiled the festivities.

The visiting Wildcats came to Middleton last Friday for the unveiling of the Cardinals’ new and improved stadium and made sure no one from MHS would be celebrating. Verona raced to a 21-0 lead, held off a late Middleton charge and stunned the host Cardinals, 28-21.

“It’s really disappointing,” senior linebacker Sam Pilof said.

Verona, chasing a second straight Big Eight Conference title, improved to 2-0 in the league and 3-1 overall. Middleton, which entered the night ranked No. 3 in the latest Wissports.net Division 1 poll, fell to 1-1, 3-1.

The Wauwatosa East Invite is traditionally one of the top boys volleyball events in the state.

So after Middleton left town with the championship trophy last Saturday, the Cardinals were elated — and excited where their season is headed.

“Throughout the season we have been driving home our mentality and how we approach matches by playing to the level we are capable of every single time we're on the court,” Middleton coach Dylan Griffith said. “All of the guys took that and ran with it. We had some convincing scores against good teams and when our mentality was right, no one was stopping us.”

No one did stop the Cardinals on Saturday.

Middleton opened with a 25-6, 25-17 win over Cedarburg in pool play. The Cardinals then toppled Milwaukee Pius, 25-13, 22-25, 15-6 and upended No. 10 Germantown, 25-20, 25-14 to complete pool play a perfect 3-0.

Middleton’s girls golf team hosted their own invite last Saturday.

And the Cardinals made sure no one had as much fun as the hosts themselves.

Middleton won the star-studded, 20-team event with a sizzling 315-team score at Pleasant View. Waunakee was second at 316, while Oregon (332), DSHA (335) and Green Bay Notre Dame (341) rounded out the top five.

“It's always a goal of ours to win our own invite,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “We have had some struggles finishing the last four holes as of late, so it was great to see the girls finish strong and come out on top.”

Middleton senior standout Vivian Cressman had a sensational round, firing a 1-under-par, 71, and tied for second place. Waunakee star Izzy Stricker won the event with a 65.

Cressman made six birdies and seven pars during her round, and continued what’s been a memorable senior season.

Sophomore Annika Jafferis and senior Ellen Close both carded 80s.