Sports

Perhaps these early games were simply the appetizers.

If that’s so, the main course comes Thursday night.

Middleton’s girls basketball team rolled past Madison East, 71-40, last Tuesday, and toppled Madison West, 55-41, last Friday.

The Cardinals improved to 4-0 in the Big Eight Conference and 4-1 overall. Middleton now hosts Verona — which is tied for first in the league at 4-0 — Thursday night at 7:30.

“Verona will be a good measuring stick for us,” Middleton coach Jeff Kind said. “They always play tough defense and take care of the ball and try to control tempo.

“We need to play a sound fundamental game against them and yet try to force the pace. They are long and athletic so we’ll see.”

Kind has certainly liked what he’s seen from his team since a season-opening loss to top-ranked Oak Creek.

Middleton enjoyed an easy win over the Purgolders last Tuesday.

Defense wins championships.

It’s one of the oldest clichés around.

It’s also stood the test of time for a reason.

Middleton’s boys basketball team needed a refresher course in that lesson last week.

The Cardinals allowed a season-high point total and fell to host Janesville Parker, 79-70, in overtime, last Thursday. But Middleton picked up its defensive intensity Saturday night and toppled visiting Madison East, 66-54.

The Cardinals are now 2-3 overall and in the Big Eight Conference.

“Hopefully we'll continue to create our identity at a high level of buying in, in terms of recognizing each other's strengths on the court, playing to those while we continue to develop our critical role players who love to contribute in any way that they can,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said.

Middleton’s loss at Parker was certainly one of its most surprising defeats in recent memory.

There was adversity everywhere.

Players were out sick. Others going down with injuries.

But Middleton’s hockey team responded well last Tuesday night.

The short-handed Cardinals skated to a 3-3 tie with host Janesville. Middleton is now 3-0-1 in the Big Eight Conference and 4-2-1 overall.

“On the positive side we did a nice job of meeting the challenges thrown in our path,” Middleton co-coach Steve Libert said. “The team has responded in a positive manner in the face of difficult circumstances.

“On the negative side we still show a lack of understanding situations on the ice. Whether it is the time of game, time of shift or other circumstances we do not adjust well.”

Middleton did plenty of adjusting against the Bluebirds.

Eddy Matush scored his first high goal on the second shift of the game, and then on the fifth shift he broke his collarbone. Taylor Dickert was out sick.

Middleton’s boys swimming team had a terrific week.

The Cardinals cruised past both Madison La Follette and Janesville Parker in a triple dual Friday night. Middleton then took first place at the nine-team Janesville Parker Relays last Saturday.

“Another solid week,” Middleton coach Luke Lengfeld said. “The boys swam very well and took advantage of every opportunity they had.”

The highlight of the week was the Parker Relays.

Middleton finished with 149 points and edged rival Madison West (136) for the title. Janesville Craig (90), Beloit Memorial (83) and Kenosha Tremper (79) rounded out the top five.

Middleton had several first place finishes at the Parker Relays.

Middleton’s 400 yard medley relay team of Hans Kunsch, Lex Patterson, Rory Slattery and Lars Haskins was first, while the Cardinals’ 800 yard freestyle relay team of Cooper Green, Josh Reddemann, Luke Delany and Peterson was also first.

Middleton’s wrestling team finished in 11^th place at the 16-team Tomah Scramble last Saturday.

Sean Benedict (8-1) was the star of the day for Middleton, finishing first in the heavyweight division.

Benedict pinned Mauston’s Alex Nelson in 48 seconds, then pinned Royall’s Landon Robertson in 4:32. Benedict followed that by pinning Tomah’s Ryan Sutherland in 4:31 and defeating Caledonia’s Blake Mauss, 5-3.

Finally, Benedict pinned Baraboo’s Jeremy Bowers in 1:43 to cap his perfect day.

Nathan Dresen finished second at 160.

Dresen pinned Harley Springborn of Viroqua in 1:52, then pinned Westby’s Brock Leum in 3:43. Dresen defeated Caledonia’s Mitchell Schmitz, 8-4, lost to Lancaster’s Trenton Cornell, 15-4, and pinned Tomah’s Ben Linzmeier in 3:42.

Middleton’s Lon Yeary (220) and Taggart Haase (182) were both fifth.

There are positives all around.

There are also areas that must be shored up.

But perhaps the most encouraging thing for Middleton’s girls basketball team is it’s winning games in spite of a few problem spots.

The Cardinals opened Big Eight Conference play last week with a 78-60 dismantling of Beloit Memorial on Thursday and a 71-64 win over Janesville Parker on Saturday. Middleton improved to 2-0 in the conference and 2-1 overall.

“After the first two conference games there are some positives as well as some concerns,” Middleton coach Jeff Kind said. “On a positive note, we're scoring points and we're getting production from a variety of players.  

Middleton’s boys basketball team believes it can win the Big Eight Conference championship this fall. And there’s certainly evidence to suggest that’s possible.

But if the Cardinals are going to make a run at the crown, they can’t have any more hiccups.

Middleton fell to Beloit Memorial, 64-53, last Friday in a game that undoubtedly stunned many throughout the conference. The loss came just three days after Middleton defeated 10-time defending conference champion Madison Memorial.

The Cardinals fell to 1-2 in the league and overall, while Beloit Memorial improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

“We knew coming in that this was the best the league was going to be top to bottom since we've been here,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “There are no Vander Blue's or Will Hudson's, but it's the deepest and most senior-led rosters across the board.  

Kari Steck is a little different than most coaches.

Middleton’s girls gymnastics boss doesn't talk about conference championships, sectional titles and trips to state. Instead, Steck likes to keep her goal list lighter.

“I have the same expectations for the girls every year,” said Steck, whose team opened its season Tuesday at Mount Horeb. “I want them to have fun, make memories, and accomplish their personal and team goals. 

“To me, that’s what gymnastics is all about. When the girls are having fun, it will show in their routines and scores.”

That’s certainly been the case during Steck’s first two seasons.

Middleton won Big Eight Conference and sectional titles in both 2012 and ’13. The Cardinals were then sixth at state in 2012 and seventh a year ago.

With several gifted gymnasts back, the Cardinals could be poised for another big year.

Middleton’s hockey team would love to win every time it takes the ice.

But if the Cardinals were going to suffer a defeat last week, they picked the right game to do so.

Middleton won a pair of Big Eight Conference games, toppling Sun Prairie, 4-1, last Tuesday and downing Madison Memorial, 2-1, in overtime last Thursday. The Cardinals fell to Monona Grove, 7-5, last Saturday, but still felt pretty good about gaining four points in the conference.

“The good news is we won the two conference games,” Middleton co-coach Steve Libert said. “We had a great opportunity to sweep the week, but we ran out of gas and let our fading legs affect our hockey brain.

It was a week that had to border on exhausting and exhilarating — all at the same time.

Middleton’s boys swimming team opened its season with three meets in five days, and performed admirably at each one.

The highlight came Saturday, when Middleton won a championship at the 14-team Nicolet Sprint Invite. The Cardinals also dropped a dual meet to Madison Memorial, and finished in third place at the Brookfield East Invite.

“It was a long week for the team,” Middleton coach Luke Lengfeld said. “The times got better and we put our best foot forward.”

Middleton was at its best during the Nicolet Invite.

The Cardinals were runaway winners, finishing with 386 points. Cedarburg was a distant second at 252, while Shorewood (236), Verona/Mount Horeb (227) and Waukesha North/ Kettle Moraine/ Pewaukee (202) rounded out the top five.