Sports

In an era of designated hitters and pitch counts, Drew Farrell is as old school as it gets.

Affectionately known as ‘the Bulldog’ by his teammates, coaches and fans, Farrell lived up to his nickname when it mattered the most.

Farrell tossed a complete-game, five-hitter, throwing 145 pitches, and Alden Cleary provided all the offense the Middleton 29ers would need in a thrilling 2-1 victory over three-time defending champion Verona in the Home Talent League championship game at Sorenson-Bakken Field on Sunday.

It had been more than a decade since Middleton was able to hoist a Sunday Home Talent League championship banner.

But the 29ers completed a perfect 18-0 season on a crisp fall-like afternoon before an appreciative crowd that included members of their last championship team.

MADISON — Twice Madison Memorial chased Middleton down and backed the Cardinals into a corner.

The Cardinals punched their way free both times.

The last of those times — midway through the fourth quarter — made it a two-score game and propelled the Cardinals to a 35-13, Big Eight Conference win over the Spartans on Sept. 5 at Mansfield Stadium.

Middleton’s offense knew it needed to step up.

“Let’s just punch it in,” quarterback Joey Passaglia said of the unit’s attitude after Memorial found paydirt with 10 minutes, 13 seconds remaining to get within 21-13. “They scored, now we have to come back and punch it in the end zone once again.

“We trusted each other, we relied on each other and we just had that attitude that we’re not losing. No one’s going to beat us.”

Passaglia and Co. turned to a play that had already worked once, a play action pass to running back Elijah Jackson on a wheel route out of the backfield.

Ben White probably doesn't want to be called Mr. 500.

Middleton’s girls volleyball coach doesn't much care for the spotlight. He’d rather the attention was on his team.

But White entered some rarified air on Sept. 6 when he posted the 500^th win of his illustrious career during the Middleton Invite. The Cardinals went 3-2 overall at the 16-team tournament.

“I definitely kept this quiet and didn't tell anyone but my wife prior to the day, because the truth is it should never be about the head coach,” White said. “I've been lucky to coach with some great people and have had the opportunity to work with a lot of special student athletes.”

White’s been an awfully special coach, as well, during his time at MHS.

White coached Middleton’s boys for 19 years, going 448-172 record overall. White led Middleton’s boys to 11 state tournaments, two Final Fours and 13 Big Eight Conference championships.

Middleton’s boys volleyball team won a state championship in 2023. The Cardinals were state runners-up in 2024.

And Middleton has been to the state tournament 15 times since 2002.

By the looks of it, though, one day the 2025 Cardinals could be talked about as the best team in school history.

No. 1 ranked Middleton rolled through the star-studded Brookfield East Invite on Sept. 6. The Cardinals won all five of their matches — including two against ranked opponents — in straight sets on their way to the title.

“We played great throughout the entirety of the tournament,” Middleton coach Dylan Griffith said. “All the teams we played we have yet to see this season, so it was a great opportunity to test some things out against different competition.

The king is alive and well.

And knocking it from its throne will be a lot harder than many had anticipated.

Middleton’s boys soccer team — winners of two straight WIAA Division 1 state titles — might have appeared vulnerable after returning just one starter this season. Instead, the Cardinals have picked up right where they left off and have raced to a 3-0 start.

Last week, Middleton defeated Madison East, 2-1, on Sept. 4. The Cardinals then downed Oregon, 3-2, on Sept. 6.

“Both games were battles,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said. “We keep telling the team ‘we're going to get everyone's best shot’ and that's what's happening.”

And the Cardinals have been up to every challenge.

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s week.

The Verona Invitational is always one of the elite cross country meets of the season.

That’s why Middleton’s boys had to feel extremely satisfied last Saturday.

The Cardinals finished third at the 15-team invite, highlighted by a 10^th-place individual finish by freshman Andrew Bertram.

DeForest won the team title with 54 points, while Madison West was second with 90. Middleton (98), Verona (103) and Madison La Follette (178) rounded out the top five.

Bertram was the Cardinals’ top finisher, completing the 5,000-meter race in 16 minutes, 47.9 seconds.

“He continues to impress with the way he approaches both practice and race day,” Middleton coach Brian Finnel said of Bertram. “He loves to compete and never seems fazed by the moment.”

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team has dominated the Big Eight Conference in recent years.

The one team that’s pushed the Cardinals, though, has been Verona.

That was the case again on Sept. 5, when Middleton and the host Wildcats had a thrilling dual meet. The Cardinals prevailed, though, pulling out an exciting 105-81 win.

“I thought the girls did a great job,” MHS first-year coach Andrew Cotton said. “They really stepped up and performed well against a great team.”

Middleton’s quartet of senior Sulia Miller, senior Clara Kiehl, sophomore Abigail Frommelt and sophomore Jane Garlock won the 200-yard freestyle relay, while the foursome of junior Rian Jost, senior Anna Dart, sophomore Olivia Rashid and sophomore Addi Haack was third.

Middleton’s girls golf team hosted a star-studded, 20-team invitational on Sept. 6 and finished second overall.

Divine Savior Holy Angels won the tournament with a 309 team score, while the Cardinals finished second with a 326. DeForest (334), Waunakee (357) and Menomonee Falls (367) rounded out the top five.

Senior Annika Jafferis led the Cardinals and finished third individually with a 74. Jafferis made a pair of birdies on the back nine and had 12 pars in her round.

“Annika’s been working really hard, and it was fun to see everything come together for her out on the course,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “I’m really proud of the way she handled herself and played with confidence.”

Ben White is a program builder.

More than two decades ago, White took over Middleton’s boys volleyball program. And during his 19 years at the helm, White led the Cardinals to 11 state tournaments, two Final Fours and 13 Big Eight Conference championships.

White begins his third year as Middleton’s girls volleyball coach, and he has these Cardinals headed in the right direction, too.

Middleton won the Big Eight Conference last season after finishing fifth in 2023. Now, with a terrific group of returnees, the Cardinals believe they can take things up another notch.

“We have to keep moving forward and taking strides as a program,” said White, whose team begins its new season Thursday with a trip to Madison East. “If you look at the fall sports programs at MHS, they are unbelievably strong. There is no school in the state that compares to the depth of student athletes in our fall programs.

It has been more than a decade since the Middleton 29ers were able to hoist the Sunday Home Talent League championship trophy.

The 29ers got some early practice last Thursday when they cruised to the Night League title.

But that was just a warmup for their final goal.

On a beautiful, sun-splashed Sunday afternoon — a perfect setting for playoff baseball —Middleton moved one step closer to its first HTL Final 4 championship since 2013, as well as a perfect season.

Middleton designated hitter Andrew Zimmerman homered and doubled, and right-hander Drew Farrell delivered another masterful performance as the 29ers earned a hard-fought, 7-3, victory over visiting Monona in the second round of the Final 4 round robin tournament at Sorenson-Bakken Field.