Sports

The WIAA Division 1 boys state swimming and diving meet had been over for an hour, or so, last February.

As Middleton standout Nick Chirafisi left Waukesha South High School — where the Cardinals had just finished fourth overall — the MHS star said what many others were thinking.

“We won the state championship my freshman year and I'd love to see us win it again my senior year,” Chirafisi said. “It can happen. Plan on us bringing the heat.”

It’s time for the Cardinals to bring it.

Middleton begins its new season by hosting Madison Memorial Friday at 5:30 p.m.

And Chirafisi — now a senior — and his MHS teammates believe a state title is well within reach.

Middleton returns several key cogs from last year’s team — led by standout seniors Jack Madoch and Chirafisi — as the Cardinals take aim at their second state title in four years.

DEFOREST — Balanced scoring wasn't an issue for the Middleton girls basketball team in the first two games of the season, both wins.

It was Saturday afternoon on the road against DeForest.

And the result was a loss.

Audrey Deptula poured in a game-high 32 points, including 19 in the second half to try and keep her team afloat, but the Cardinals got little else in a 71-53 defeat, their first of the season.

“We didn't make shots,” Middleton first-year coach Rashard Griffith said. “We missed lay-ups, we missed free throws. I don't even know how many lay-ups we missed tonight, but it's an ongoing thing.”

Those misses didn't sting as bad in the first two games of the year, a 65-55 victory over Madison Memorial on Nov. 17 and a 55-45 victory over Sun Prairie East two days later.

Middleton’s hockey team is off to a 3-0 start following two more convincing wins last week.

The Cardinals toppled Onalaska/La Crosse, 9-1, on Nov. 22. Middleton also bested Sauk Prairie, 4-2, on Nov. 26.

In Middleton’s win over Onalaska/La Crosse, Brady Engelkes and Charlie Jambor both had two goals and an assist. Daniel Shulla and Zach Mochain both added a goal and an assist, while Avery Passini, Garrett Ballweg and Max Glimme all had goals.

Cade Semrad and Wyatt Ehrhardt both had two assists, while Ethan Glimme and Ethan Lam each had an assist.

Cam Haynes made 17 saves and notched the win for MHS.

In the Cardinals’ win over Sauk Prairie, Middleton raced to a 3-0 lead before the Eagles closed within 3-2 late in the third period. But Sjowall posted an insurance goal with just 1:01 left and Middleton prevailed.

The WIAA state hockey tournament has been relocated to Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton.
And there’s nothing the Cardinals would like more than to play a home game at state come March.

That dream could become a reality, too, as Middleton returns a bevy of talent from a group that went 16-8 last season and finished second in the Big Eight with a 9-5 mark.

“Last season was a good step for us,” said Middleton coach Dan Truehl, whose team began its new season with a 10-1 over Waunakee last Saturday. “We won a lot of games and set the tone for even higher expectations this year.”

Middleton brings back an explosive group of forwards, led by junior Brady Engelkes — a first-team all-Big Eight Conference selection last season.

Engelkes led the Cardinals with 28 goals, which was the fourth-highest total in the conference. He also added 18 assists and finished as Middleton’s leading scorer with 46 points.

Call them the Super Six.

Middleton’s girls volleyball team — which earned a trip to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament for the first time in 13 years — landed six players on the all-Big Eight Conference team.

Senior middle blocker Sierra Pertzborn was named first-team all-conference and the league’s Player of the Year. Senior outside hitter Jordan LaScala and senior setter Evin Jordee were also named first-team all-conference.

Senior libero Eliana Ross was named second-team all-conference, while senior middle blocker Amelia Frautschi and junior defensive specialist Amber Wahlgren were both named honorable-mention all-conference.

In addition to all-conference honors, Pertzborn was named second-team all-state by the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association. Jordee and LaScala were both named honorable-mention all-state.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers proudly pointed out during the 2021 NFL season that he “owns” the Chicago Bears.

Middleton’s boys volleyball team could teach Rodgers a thing or two about what true ownership looks like.

Middleton has dominated the Big Eight Conference for more than a decade. The Cardinals have won 87 consecutive league matches and haven’t dropped a conference match in more than 11 years.

Middleton’s reign of terror continued in 2022 — and because of it, the Cardinals landed six players on the all-conference team.

Senior outside hitter Ben Heise was named first-team all-conference and the league’s Player of the Year. Junior outside hitter Ambrose Engling and senior libero Alexander Heuer joined Heise on the first-team.

Junior setter Brody Stuttgen was named second-team all-conference, while senior middle blocker Joe Ilk and senior outside hitter Kaden Fosdick were both named honorable-mention all-league.

Middleton’s girls tennis team dominated the all-Big Eight Conference team.

The Cardinals earned six of the seven spots on the league’s first team.

Singles players Netra Somasundarem, Sonya Agapov, Lydia Sabat and Sophie Shi were all named first-team all-conference. Middleton’s top doubles team of Ashley Andler and Amy Li, along with the No. 2 tandem of Sarah Li and Keena Cheng were also named first-team all-conference.

Somasundarem, facing many of the state’s top players every time she took the court, finished the year 22-8. Somasundarem won her flight at No. 1 singles at the Big Eight Conference tournament and also won a sectional championship.

Somasundarem was the No. 9 seed at the individual state tournament, where she won three matches and reached the quarterfinals. There, Somasundaram ran into No. 1 seed and eventual champion Parker Christensen of Elkhorn and dropped a 6-3, 6-0 match.

They are young, inexperienced and green as grass.

And yet they just might be one of the area’s surprise teams this winter.

Middleton’s girls basketball team raced to a 2-0 start after posting wins over Madison Memorial and Sun Prairie East week.

The Cardinals toppled the host Spartans, 65-55, on Nov. 17. Middleton followed that with a 55-45 win over East on Nov. 19.

In the Cardinals’ win over Memorial, the Spartans led, 32-27 at halftime. But Middleton used a big second half and rallied for the win.

Cardinals freshman Brooke Michelotti had a sensational debut, draining three three-pointers and scoring a game-high 21 points. Middleton senior guard Audrey Deptula poured in 15 points, while senior post Addy Gmur added 11 points.

In Middleton’s win over East, Deptula poured in a game-high 20 points and Gmur added 12 to power the Cardinals. Michelotti added eight points for Middleton.

Middleton’s football team had another tremendous season.

The Cardinals reached the postseason for the 26^th consecutive season, which is tied for the longest streak in Division 1 with Hartland Arrowhead. Middleton won a playoff game for the third straight season and fifth time in six years.

The Cardinals finished second in the Big Eight Conference. And while their 7-4 overall record might now have wowed anyone, their four losses came against team that went a combined 31-4.

So, it came as no surprise that Middleton was remarkably well-represented on the all-Big Eight Conference team.

The Cardinals had nine players named first-team all-Big Eight, nine named second-team all-conference and five more earn honorable-mention all-league honors. In all, that’s a whopping 23 spots on the all-conference team that consisted of a Middleton player.

WAUKESHA — Sophie Benson spent four memorable seasons inside Middleton’s girls swimming and diving program.

There were three top-six team finishes at the WIAA Division 1 state meet during traditional seasons. There was a runner-up showing in the very non-traditional 2020-21 COVID year, when the Cardinals moved their season to the spring.

And there were countless laughs, smiles and memories.

So when it came to an end last Saturday — with the Cardinals racing to a fourth place finish at this year’s state meet held inside Waukesha South High School — it was a bittersweet time for Benson and her fellow seniors.

Middleton had given another memorable performance, challenging the state powerhouses for pool supremacy once again. But the finality of it all was also tough for Benson to wrap her head around.