Sports

Next time, Middleton’s might want to think twice about scheduling Verona as its homecoming opponent.

Especially after the Wildcats ruined the Cardinals’ latest homecoming with a dominant 27-0 victory in their Big Eight Conference showdown at Otto Breitenbach Stadium on Sept. 25.

The matchup was a battle for sole possession of first place in the Big Eight as both teams entered with identical 3-0 league records. However, it was a mismatch from the start as Verona scored on its first three possessions and Middleton never could get on track.

“There were a lot of breakdowns,” Middleton co-coach Joe Poehls said. “A lot of credit to Verona. They came prepared, they were ready, they were hungry. They played a really good game.”

Middleton fell to 3-3 overall, 3-1 in the league and now heads to Madison La Follette Friday at 7 p.m. Verona improved to 5-1, 4-0 and is now in control of the conference race with three weeks remaining.

Wisconsin Heights’ girls volleyball team has hit the midpoint of the season.

And the Vanguards did so with a huge dose of momentum.

The Vanguards went to the Shullsburg Invite last Saturday, went 5-0 and won the tournament.

“A big focus for us during and between matches was player mindset, choosing the energy they bring, controlling what they can control, and staying present point by point,” Heights coach Katie Doescher said. “When our mindset is there, our skills and game play elevates and we can see what we are capable of achieving together. It was an incredibly impressive weekend and the teamwork and resilience was second to none.”

The Vanguards opened the tournament with a 25-13, 25-13 win over Ithaca, then they survived a three-set thriller with Argyle, 25-16, 18-25, 17-15.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

That’s the approach Middleton’s boys soccer coach Kevin Pauls was taking after his Cardinals battled a trio of heavyweights last week.

Middleton tied Big Eight Conference rival Verona, 1-1, on Sept. 22. The Cardinals then tied Timoth Christian (Ill.), 1-1, on Sept. 25 and dropped a 2-1 decision to Dunlap (Ill.) on Sept. 26 at the Moline (Ill.) Invite.

Middleton is now 6-1-4 on the year and 4-0-1 in the Big Eight.

“Overall record-wise, not what we wanted for the week,” Pauls said. “But three different and all competitive games will help us grow and get better for the second half of our season.”

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week 

• Middleton 1, Verona 1 — Pauls said this contest “felt like a state level game”, and the two juggernauts certainly played that way.

The Streak is alive and well — even in a year where Middleton’s girls golf team is still looking for a branch of consistency to grab onto.

The Cardinals won their 11^th straight Big Eight Conference tournament on Sept. 24, firing a 365 to easily outdistance runner-up Janesville Parker (401) at Evansville Golf Club. Sun Prairie West (403), Sun Prairie East (403) and Madison West (420) rounded out the top five.

“Winning the Big Eight Conference title again is something we’re really proud of,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “Every year the goal is to put ourselves in a position to compete for a conference championship. To see the girls come through and win by 36 strokes says a lot about the depth and consistency of this team.”

Middleton senior Addison Schnarr captured medalist honors with an 81, while junior Stela Flad was second with an 85. Senior Nora Kuhl added a 99 and sophomore Josie Day carded a 100.

The Cardinal Invite is always one of the top boys volleyball tournaments in Wisconsin.

This year was no different, as five of the state’s top-10 teams converged on Middleton High School for this star-studded invite.

And while the Cardinals failed to defend their championship, they still took plenty of positives from the day.

No. 1 ranked Middleton went 3-1 overall and is now 23-2 on the season. The Cardinals fell to No. 2 Sussex Hamilton in the quarterfinals, though, and settled for a fifth place tie.

“This tournament was another good chance for us to test ourselves against some very good competition,” Middleton coach Dylan Griffith said. “Although we lost earlier than we would have liked, we … got to play a really good Hamilton team. Bringing many of the top-10 teams in the state to one tournament is a really unique experience to have everyone in one place.”

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District will induct seven honorees into the Middleton High School Hall of Fame Friday.

The Class of 2026 inductees include former boys basketball coach John Boyle, former football coach Kurt Gundlach, former football standout Brooks Braga, former golfer Jon Turcott, former swimmer Susie Topp, Middleton’s 1997, 1998 and 1999 boys golf team, and long-time supporter Joann Myers.

Honorees and their families will be recognized in a pregame reception and a pregame ceremony on the field before the Cardinals’ homecoming football game against Verona at the Borden Athletic Complex.

Inductees’ photos and biographies will be displayed on the Hall of Fame wall at the stadium.

Hall of Fame honorees are chosen by a selection committee that includes Middleton High School’s

Athletic Department, head coaches, community members, and alumni athletes.

In the movie “Anchorman”, Will Ferrell’s character Ron Burgundy and his news team brawl with other news groups led by Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Tim Robbins and Ben Stiller.

When the melee ends, Farrell said to his victorious news team, “Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast.”

That’s how Janesville Craig’s football team had to feel last Friday night.

Middleton led the host Cougars, 24-17, with 8 ½ minutes left in their Big Eight Conference game. The Cardinals then erupted for 28 unanswered points in just 4 ½ minutes and cruised home to a 52-24 win.

Middleton won its third straight game and improved to 3-2 overall, 3-0 in the Big Eight. The Cardinals now host Verona (3-0, 4-1) Friday at 7 p.m. in a matchup of Big Eight co-leaders.

Craig fell to 1-2, 2-3.

The race for a Big Eight Conference boys soccer championship figures to be as intense as it is thrilling.

Middleton and Madison West are tied atop the league with 5-0 records. Verona is in third place at 4-0-1, and the three teams all play each other down the stretch.

The Cardinals kept themselves in position for a league title last week, posting a 6-1 victory over Janesville Craig on Sept. 15 and a 1-0 win over Madison La Follette on Sept. 17.

The Cardinals, ranked No. 4 in the latest Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association poll, are now 6-1-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the league. Middleton and Madison West are tied for the Big Eight lead, ½-game ahead of Verona (4-0-1).

Here’s how the Cardinals stayed perfect in the league last week.

• Middleton 6, Janesville Craig 1 — Cormac Carlson had a hat trick and the Cardinals toppled the Cougars.

It was a quiet week for the state’s No. 1 ranked boys volleyball team.

But Middleton’s top ranked squad had another impressive performance in their lone match.

The Cardinals rolled past Fort Atkinson, 25-15, 25-14, 25-20, on Sept. 16. Middleton improved to 18-1 as the season hits roughly the midway point.

"We had a great game vs. Fort Atkinson,” Middleton coach Dylan Griffith said. “The guys did a great job honing in on some areas of our game and applying that into the match. Up and down the roster everyone was able to contribute in a significant way. You can see that with a bunch of different guys all over the stat sheet.”

Middleton senior rightside Jonah Johnson had seven kills, seven aces, three digs and three blocks, while junior outside Mason King had seven kills and two blocks. Senior middle blocker Henry Dailey had five kills and three blocks, and sophomore outside hitter Tanner Goldbeck had four kills, four aces and three blocks.

The WIAA Division 1 girls state swimming and diving meet will be held at Waukesha South High School six weeks from now.

The Blackshirts held a mini-state meet on Sept. 19 and it might have looked a lot like the state meet will look come mid-November.

Middleton, which has won three straight state championships, cruised past a star-studded field and won the Waukesha South Invite in convincing fashion.

The Cardinals finished with 405.5 points to easily outdistance runner-up Menomonee Falls/Sussex Hamilton (194.5) and win the 20-team invitational. Verona (153), Madison Memorial (143.5) and Arrowhead (142) rounded out the top five.

Here were the Cardinals that earned top-five finishes:

FIRST PLACE

• Middleton’s quartet of junior Tae Martin, junior Helen Machleidt, junior Addi Haack and senior Rian Jost won the 200-yard medley relay.