Sports

The Big Three.

For years, the Miami Heat had their version.

Today, inside Middleton’s wrestling program, the term certainly fits Taggart Haase, Sean Benedict and Chris Rogers.

The Cardinals’ ‘Big Three’ all qualified for this week’s WIAA Division 1 state tournament after terrific performances at last Saturday’s Middleton Sectional.

Haase finished first at 170 pounds, while Benedict (heavyweight) and Rogers (132) both placed second. The top two finishers in each weight class earned trips to state.

Haase, who has a 47-4 record this season, opened with a 9-0 win over Justice Blackhawk of Tomah. Haase then defeated Alex Schodin of DeForest, 3-1, in sudden death.

In the title match, Haase edged Madison La Follette’s Carlito Schiro, 1-0.

“I'm really excited about getting an opportunity to wrestle at the state tournament,” Haase said. “I was expecting to place first, but it was a tough tournament nonetheless.”

So much for that late-season slump.

Middleton’s hockey team began the postseason in style last Friday.

The Cardinals got sensational goaltending from senior Max McConnell, plenty of offense and rolled past Oregon, 5-0, in a WIAA regional final.

Middleton improved to 18-5-2 on the year and snapped a two-game skid.

Middleton advanced to a sectional semifinal against Madison West Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Capitol Ice Arena. The sectional final is Saturday at 6 p.m. at Hartmeyer.

“The best thing I can say about the Oregon game is that it was a good opponent to get our playoff feet wet,” Middleton coach Steffon Walby said. “Oregon really played us hard and made us work for every opportunity.”

Fortunately for the Cardinals, McConnell was on their side.

McConnell posted 25 saves and covered up for some mistakes being made around him.

Middleton’s boys basketball team received the No. 5 seed in their 18-team WIAA Division 1 sectional.

The Cardinals open postseason play when they host 12^th-seeded Madison La Follette March 6 at 7 p.m. in a regional semifinal. The winner meets either No. 4 Madison East or No. 13 Madison West March 7 at 7 p.m. in a regional final.

The sectional semifinals are March 12 at Kenosha Bradford. The sectional finals are March 14 at Beloit Memorial.

“We wanted a No. 4 (seed) and the potential to host two regional games,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “But (No.) 4 and 5 bracket together anyway, and it was a matter of if both of those teams win in round one, who gets the home game.”

Timing is everything.

For Middleton’s girls gymnastics team, that was a terrific thing last Saturday.

Now, the Cardinals are hoping their timing is impeccable again Saturday.

Middleton posted a season-high score and finished second at the Big Eight Conference meet held at Madison Memorial.

Sun Prairie won the meet with a 141.250 team score, while Middleton was second at 138.60. Madison Memorial (135.70), Madison West (134.325) and Verona/Madison Edgewood (130.375) rounded out the top five.

“The girls came away with our highest score of the year, which is amazing considering the pressure that is present during post-season meets,” Middleton coach Kari Steck said. “They really just went in with the attitude that they were going to have fun, which showed in their routines.”

There was plenty to have fun with.

Kevin Bavery will head to his postseason seeding meeting this weekend.

And Middleton’s boys basketball coach will be bringing a résumé that received a huge boost Tuesday night.

The Cardinals had arguably their finest performance of the year, cruising to an 86-48 win at Madison La Follette. Amazingly, Middleton’s lead eclipsed 40 points at one point, leading to a running clock.

“Obviously we played very well in all phases,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “We hit the three, got to the free throw line, shared the ball, moved well on offense and came with an intensity on defense.

“La Follette didn’t have their normal lineup to start the game due to some disciplinary issues and I have to give their coach credit for sticking to his principles and demanding his players do things the right way. With that said, it’s easy for a team to relax, but our guys were relentless.”

It certainly hasn’t been the easiest of years for Middleton’s boys swimming and diving team.

First-year coach Sam Niesen has pushed the Cardinals harder than any time in years. Middleton’s training habits have been intensified.

For many, it’s been a tough change.

But it’s all beginning to pay off.

Middleton had a sensational day at its own sectional last Saturday. And the Cardinals qualified 10 individuals, three relay teams and two divers for the state meet.

“I think sectionals went very well,” Middleton senior Rory Slattery said. “We've all worked so hard this season, and it's great to be able too see all of it pay off.”

Four-time defending state champion Madison Memorial won the 12-team sectional with 426 points. Madison West was second (345), while Middleton (294), Sun Prairie (215) and Verona/Mount Horeb (193.5) rounded out the top five.

Middleton’s hockey team begins the postseason Friday. And the Cardinals undoubtedly wish they’d be headed to the playoffs on a better note.

Middleton dropped a 7-2 decision to Madison West last Tuesday. The Cardinals then fell to Baraboo/Portage, 3-2, in overtime last Thursday.

Middleton finished the regular season 17-5-2 overall and atop the Big Eight Conference at 11-2-1. But when the top-seeded Cardinals host either No. 8 Oregon or No. 9 Sun Prairie in a regional final Friday at 8 p.m., they’ll be carrying their first two-game losing streak of the year.

“I think the easiest way to sum it up is we let our foot off the gas, and we became real complacent knowing that we had the No. 1 seed wrapped up,” Middleton coach Steffon Walby said of the Cardinals’ disappointing week.

Walby rested some players last week. Injuries and suspensions also left Middleton somewhat shorthanded.

Still, the Cardinals didn’t play their normal brand of hockey.

There were no surprises at this year’s postseason seeding meeting. Nothing shocking or astonishing.

And that was just fine with Middleton girls basketball coach Jeff Kind.

The Cardinals received the No. 3 seed in their sectional and host 14^th-seeded Madison West Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in a regional semifinal. If the Cardinals win there, they’d host either No. 6 Oconomowoc or 11^th-seeded Burlington on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in a regional final.

Janesville Craig and Verona received the top two seeds in the sectional, while Janesville Parker and Kenosha Tremper were seeded fourth and fifth, respectively. If the Cardinals advance through regionals, those are the teams that would most likely be waiting in sectionals.

“We were clearly the three (seed) going in and the whole thing shook out pretty much as expected,” Kind said. “There were a few appeals, but none were upheld.

It was ‘Senior Night’ for Middleton’s boys basketball team last Saturday.

And the group of Ian Hokanson, Kellan Schulz, Tyler Ballweg, Brett Joers, Jordan Smith and Andrew Gardner couldn’t have received a better sendoff.

Middleton bounced back from a tough loss to Madison Memorial two nights earlier and routed Madison West, 69-50. The Cardinals improved to 14-5 overall and 11-4 in the Big Eight Conference, 1 ½ games behind the conference leading Spartans.

Middleton started three of its six seniors in the first half, and the other three in the second half.

“You always want ‘Senior Night’ to go well and I don’t know that there could have been a better tribute to our six seniors from the way the game played out on the court,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “All six contributed.”

Kevin Bavery could only scratch his head afterwards and wonder what could have been.

Middleton’s boys basketball coach had just watched his team fall short of a golden opportunity to take control of the Big Eight Conference race.

Instead, it was Madison Memorial that got to enjoy the spoils after rallying in the final minutes to stun the host Cardinals, 49-40, in a Big Eight Conference showdown before a packed house Thursday.

“I’m proud of how hard we played,” Bavery said. “But down the stretch, we lost our mental focus.”

The Spartans trailed by 10 points late in the third period, but outscored the Cardinals 27-9 in the fourth period.

“We’re really disappointed because we know we could have won and we should have won,” said Cardinals senior forward Ian Hokanson.

With its 12^th consecutive league victory, Memorial took over sole possession of first place in the Big Eight with a 12-3 mark (14-5 overall).