Sports

The late, great Lou Holtz was legendary for downplaying just how good his Notre Dame football teams were.

Holtz would complain about the Fighting Irish’s shortcoming. He’d tell you Notre Dame’s next opponent — no matter how big or small — seemed invincible.

Then his Fighting Irish would win the overwhelming majority of their games and challenge for a national championship every few years.

Ted Severson is the exact opposite of Holtz.

Severson, Wisconsin Heights’ baseball manager, has no problem sharing his true feelings and raising expectations along the way. That’s just what Severson did recently when talking about his 2026 Vanguards.

“This will be the best Vanguard baseball team in years and it will be a pleasure to coach such a group of great young men with exceptional work ethic and top notch positive attitudes,” said Severson, whose team began its new season Tuesday against Fennimore. “Energy is real and this team has it.”

Jackson Guerrero had a memorable career for Middleton’s boys basketball team.

And the Cardinals’ senior guard put a bow on his four years at MHS last week when he was named to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s Division 1 honorable-mention all-state team.

Manchester was one of 10 players named honorable-mention all-state. Ten players were named first team all-state.

Guerrero, who was named the Big Eight Conference’s Player of the Year, led the Cardinals in virtually every major category.

Guerrero was first in scoring at 16.7 points per game, first in steals (2.8), assists (3.5) and blocked shots (0.6). Guerrero also finished third on the team in rebounds (4.4).

Guerrero also set the school record for career steals with 217, breaking the previous mark held by 2017 graduate Tyree Eady (178). Guerrero also finished seventh in school history in career points (865) and third in career assists (208).

Middleton’s boys basketball season had just ended with a difficult loss to rival Madison Memorial.

A memorable 22-5 campaign — one that included a share of the Big Eight Conference title and a regional championship — was in the books. And as MHS senior forward Luke Sheehan reflected on the Cardinals’ outstanding season, he also knew Middleton’s future might be even brighter.

“I would tell everybody they should be scared,” Sheehan said of next season. “Everybody should be nervous. We're good hands with the underclassmen we’ve got right now.”

That certainly seems to be the case.

Middleton will graduate a gifted senior class led by Big Eight Conference Player of the Year Jackson Guerrero. Sheehan was arguably the league’s most improved player, while senior guards Andrew Qastin and John Grimes both received all-conference honors.

Middleton’s boys basketball team enjoyed a memorable season, winning a share of the Big Eight Conference title and capturing a WIAA Division 1 regional title.

So it was no surprise the Cardinals were highly regarded when it came to all-conference honors.

MHS senior guard Jackson Guerrero was named first-team all-conference and was the league’s Player of the Year. Senior guard John Grimes and sophomore post Carter Parks were named second-team all-conference, while senior guard Andrew Qastin was named honorable mention all-league.

In addition, Middleton’s Kevin Bavery was named the league’s Coach of the Year.

Guerrero led the Cardinals in virtually every major category.

Guerrero was first in scoring at 16.7 points per game, first in steals (2.8), assists (3.5) and blocked shots (0.6). Guerrero also finished third on the team in rebounds (4.4).

Middleton’s girls basketball team landed three players on the all-Big Eight Conference team.

Senior guard Brooke Michelotti was named first-team all-Big Eight, while senior guard Rowan Borne and freshman guard Anna Reinhard were both named honorable mention all-conference.

Michelotti led the Cardinals in scoring with 13.2 points per game and made 33.3% of her 3-point attempts. Michelotti also tied for third on the team with 1.5 steals per game and was fifth with 1.5 assists per game.

Michelotti earned second-team honors as both a junior and a sophomore, then made the jump to first-team all-conference her senior year.

Borne, who was also named honorable-mention all-conference as a junior, was second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game. She led Middleton with 2.6 steals per game, was second in assists (1.8) and tied for fourth in rebounding (3.8).

Middleton’s boys hockey team had two players named to the all-Big Eight Conference team.

Senior forward Patrick Passini was named second-team all-conference, while sophomore forward Christian Schuster was named honorable-mention all-conference.

Passini led the Cardinals with 17 goals and tied for the team-lead with 27 points. Passini was also third on the team with 10 assists and tied for the team lead with 1.12 points per game.

Passini had three goals in an early season, 3-2 win over Verona. He also had three goal games against Eau Claire and Beloit Memorial, and had two goals in another meeting with Beloit.

Passini also had two assists in games against Madison Memorial and Oregon.

Schuster was second on the team in goals with 12 and second in assists (15). Schuster also tied for the team-lead in total points (27) and points per game (1.12).

DEFOREST — They stunned many in the basketball world by winning 22 games.

They shocked several in their own league by capturing a share of the Big Eight Conference title.

And they surprised others by winning a WIAA Division 1 regional title.

So moments after Middleton’s boys basketball team saw its season end with a 77-58 loss to Madison Memorial in a March 12 sectional semifinal at DeForest High School, Cardinals coach Kevn Bavery wasn’t focused on the micro.

This was a time to view things from 60,000 feet.

“We went in the locker room after the game, and honestly, we literally said nothing about the game,” Bavery said. “I just said, listen, I can’t even shed any tears right now, because I’m just so proud and I’m so honored. This is the most fun that I’ve ever had. It really is.

WAUNAKEE — The devil you know beats the devil you don’t.

That’s how Middleton’s boys basketball team seemed to feel late last Saturday night.

Madison Memorial was in the fight of its life, going to double overtime with Badger in a WIAA Division 1 regional final. Somewhat surprisingly, several of the Cardinals were pulling for their arch-rival Spartans.

“I liked how we played the last game against them,” MHS senior guard Jackson Guerrero said. “That should carry over.”

Sophomore forward Carter Parks felt the same.

“I'd rather see Memorial again,” Parks said. “I mean, we're tied with them 1-1 this year. Might as well go 2-1.”

Memorial did prevail, eventually escaping with a 107-99 win over pesky Badger. Now, the fifth-seeded Cardinals and top-seeded Spartans — separated by just 2.9 miles — will meet in a sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. at DeForest High School.

Expectations weren’t exactly great.

When Middleton’s girls gymnastics team began its campaign back in November, first-year coach Desiree Peterson didn't know what to expect from her young squad. When the season ended four months later, the Cardinals were undoubtedly one of the area’s surprise teams.

Middleton capped its season by sending junior Aspen Goth and senior Abby Arnold to the WIAA Division 1 individual state meet last Saturday at Wisconsin Rapids High School. Both Cardinals also had outstanding showings.

Goth finished 13^th in the all-around competition, while Arnold was 23^rd on the floor exercise.

“My first year as head coach went better than I had ever thought it would and that's because of this great group of girls I had the privilege of coaching and the amazing assistant coaches I had by my side all season,” Peterson said. “I wouldn't have been able to do this with them.”

Three Middleton football players will compete in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.

Quarterback Joey Passaglia, linebacker Tyler Vogt and wide receiver Chase Rogers will represent the Cardinals.

Passaglia was the Big Eight Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and the league’s Quarterback of the Year. He was also named all-Region and honorable-mention all-state.

Passaglia threw 25 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He threw for 2,318 yards, completed 69.2% of his passes and averaged 12.0 yards per completion.

Passaglia also ran for 456 yards, had five rushing touchdowns and averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt.

In Passaglia’s two years as a starter, he threw for 4,813 yards and 57 touchdowns.