Sports

Middleton’s hockey team edged Janesville, 3-2, on Jan. 22.

Patrick Passini scored the game-winning goal at the 12:51 mark of the third period.

The Cardinals improved to 5-2 in the Big Eight Conference and are 5-10-1 overall.

Everett Lamp gave Middleton a 1-0 lead 31 seconds into the second period on assists from Christian Schuster and Christopher Kiehl. Janesville then scored the next two goals and took a 2-1 lead midway through the third period.

Middleton’s Luke Strasia then scored at the 10:59 mark of the third period on an assist from Foster Wholers to tie the game, 2-2. Passini then had a shorthanded goal on an assist from Schuster that proved to be the game-winner.

Middleton goalie Caiden Fletcher had 20 saves and picked up the win.

The Cardinals also held a 44-22 edge in shots on goal.

• On deck: Middleton hosted University School of Milwaukee on Tuesday, then hosts Madison West Thursday at 7:45 p.m.

Middleton’s girls gymnastics team had another terrific week.

The Cardinals defeated Madison Memorial, 134.025-130.10 on Jan. 22. Middleton then won the Southwestern Invitational on Jan. 24.

In the Cardinals’ win over Memorial, Middleton’s Aspen Goth won the all-around title with a 35.950, while Abby Arnold was third (32.275).

Goth was first on the vault with a 9.20, while Arnold was fourth with an 8.150. Izzy Bradford added an 8.150 and Reagan Holzheimer had an 8.10.

Goth was also first on the uneven bars with a 9.025, while Arnold was third (8.075). Middleton also counted an 8.0 from Aubrey Halverson and a 7.80 from Lauren Devine.

Eva Szczepanski led Middleton with a second place finish on the balance beam with an 8.475, while Goth was third at 8.425. Ana Bollig added an 8.175 and Arnold had a 7.450.

Sure, it’s always nice to roll past an opponent for an easy victory.

But it’s the close ones that are remembered most and Middleton’s boys basketball team won’t soon forget its heart stopping 72-70 overtime victory over Big Eight Conference rival Verona in front of a packed Verona fieldhouse on Jan. 13.

In a showdown between conference unbeatens, the game became an instant classic as both teams battled back and forth throughout in a contest that wasn’t decided until the final buzzer.

“Sometimes you see some of the scores around the league, around the state and you see a 90-45 or something like that. We would much rather play in a game like this,” said Middleton coach Kevin Bavery. “Of course you want to win, but I’d rather play in a game like this and lose.

“It’s okay to have a mismatch once in a while and get that kind of game where you can involve a lot more guys but it really is about having a packed gym and having it come down to the last shot.”

Cormac Carlson might be best known as one of the top soccer players in the Class of 2028. But the Middleton sophomore guard is making a name for himself on the basketball court, as well.

Carlson made two free throws with XXX seconds left Saturday lifting the Cardinals to a thrilling 84-82 win over Madison West in the final game of the Big Eight Conference MLK Event held at Madison La Follette High School.

Middleton improved to 10-1 overall and stayed atop the Big Eight standings with an 8-0 mark. West fell to 5-7, 2-6.

“West had just beaten Kimberly and Waunakee, and we knew they had quality personnel,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “We knew it would be a big challenge as coaches.

“We have to continually get our players to understand how capable so many teams are. We got the win and hopefully learned some things that we can apply going forward.”

Middleton’s girls basketball team won two of three games last week.

The Cardinals defeated Madison East, 77-26, and Madison West, 84-20, in Big Eight Conference games. The Cardinals also fell to Stevens Point, 64-57.

Middleton is now 9-6 overall and 7-4 in the Big Eight.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ three games.

• Stevens Point 64, Middleton 57 — The Cardinals out three players in double figures, but fell short against the visiting Pointers on Jan. 13.
Lucy Drye led Middleton with 14 points, while Hailey Stroede had 12 points and nine rebounds. Brooke Michelotti added 11 points and three rebounds, while Rowan Borne chipped in with eight points.

Anna Reinhard had six points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Hailey Roepsch had five rebounds.

• Middleton 77, Madison East 26 — Ten different Cardinals scored in a comfortable win over the Purgolders on Jan. 14.

Middleton’s wrestlers finished in fourth place at the 15-team Badger Scramble last Saturday.

Kaukauna finished first with 368.5 points, while Marshfield was second with 208. Antioch (Ill.) was third with 187, while Middleton (161) and Kenosha Indian Trail (147) rounded out the top five.

Middleton got championships from Sam Zanton at 157 pounds, Finn Grauwels at 165 and Reed Falk at 190.

Grady Hargrove was third at 138 and Pavil Jones was fourth at 175. Here’s a recap of how the Cardinals performed at each weight class.

113 — Round 1 — Sean Cain (16-16) So., EATR pinned Matthew Francois (9-12) Fr., MIDD, 3:24.

Round 3 - Camden Rugg (35-0) Jr., UNGR pinned Matthew Francois (9-12) Fr., MIDD, 1:29.

Cons. Round 2 - Miguel Potter (4-5) Fr., WHBA pinned Matthew Francois (9-12) Fr., MIDD, 0:59.

Round 3 - Tyler Tuler (6-4) Fr., BRCE def. Matthew Francois (9-12) Fr., MIDD, 15-6.

Another week.

Another win.

That’s how things keep going for Middleton’s terrific boys swimming team.

The Cardinals won their own invitational last Saturday, finishing with 229 points to easily outdistance runner-up Madison West (161). Verona was third with 132, while Madison Memorial (129) and McFarland (110) rounded out the top five.                

“It’s a fun meet due to most of the events not being a part of the normal high school line-up,” Middleton coach Wes Lagerhausen said. “It also creates some interesting choices for the coaches to make.

“It’s a perfect way to enjoy one of the last weekends before championship season, where most of the athletes will swim a similar, if not totally the same lineup to prepare to the best of their ability.”

Middleton’s girls gymnastics team notched a pair of impressive wins last week.

The Cardinals defeated Verona/Madison Edgewood, 135.225-134.50 on Jan. 13. Middleton also toppled Madison West, 136.60-117.650 on Jan. 15.

“This week’s meets went well,” Middleton coach Desiree Peterson said. “We have been improving our team score each meet which is fantastic.”

In Middleton’s win over Verona, Aspen Goth won the all-around competition with a 36.925 individual score and Abby Arnold was third with a 33.225.

Goth was first on the vault (9.20), while Arnold was fourth (8.650), Reagan Holzheimer was sixth (8.350) and Izzy Bradford was seventh (8.250). Goth was also first on the uneven bars with a 9.150, while Lauren Devine was fifth (8.075), Arnold was seventh (7.650) and Holzheimer was ninth (7.350).

Middleton’s hockey team ended a seven-game losing streak with a 6-5 win at Beloit Memorial on Jan. 13.

The Cardinals improved to 4-10-1 overall and is 4-2 in the Big Eight Conference.

Middleton’s Christian Schuster scored the game-winner on an assist from George Arp at the 10:46 mark of the third quarter to snap a 5-5 tie.

Middleton led, 2-0, and 5-2 before the Purple Knights battled back. But Schuster’s game-winner helped the Cardinals end their skid.

Patrick Passini scored on an assist from Everett Lamp, and Schuster had a goal on assists from Luke Strasia and Tyce Mikla as Middleton took a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Beloit answered with two goals in the first 7 minutes of the second period to tie the game, 2-2. Then Middleton rolled off three straight goals in a 6 1/2-minute window and surged to a 5-2 lead.

It took longer than anyone could have imagined.

But Middleton’s girls gymnastics team had its first two meets of the season last week, and showed they could be poised for a solid campaign.

The Cardinals finished in third place at the seven-team Mount Horeb Invite last Saturday.

Middleton also defeated Janesville Parker, 130.40-114.60 on Jan. 8.

“Things are going great,” Middleton first-year coach Desiree Peterson said. “We have a great incoming class of new talented freshmen, so I am excited to see how the rest of the season goes. This team has a lot of potential this year.”

Peterson, who was the Cardinals’ assistant coach the last three seasons, takes over for Alexis Lindahl.

Peterson competed in club gymnastics as a child and later at Oshkosh West She also began coaching during her high school years and continued to coach club gymnastics while she attended college.