Sports

Middleton Hall of Fame boys golf coach Tom Cabalka is retiring after the 2026 season ends.

Cabalka has been on Middleton’s staff for 35 years and been the Cardinals’ head coach since 2005.

During Cabalka’s time in the program, Middleton has been to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament 24 times and won state championships in 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2011.

The 75-year-old Cabalka’s legacy goes well beyond trophies and medals, though. His ability to relate with athletes from multiple generations and motivate them is legendary.

Here’s what some who knew Cabalka best said about the illustrious coach.

LUKE WEISS

CURRENT MIDDLETON SENIOR

Jackson Guerrero enjoyed countless memorable moments as a three-year letterwinner on the football field.

Guerrero also had a myriad of unforgettable performances on the basketball court, where he lettered three years and was the Big Eight Conference’s Player of the Year this winter.

What Guerrero did on the baseball diamond on May 21, though, ranks near the top of his endless stream of athletic accomplishments.

Guerrero had the game-winning hit in Middleton’s 7-6 victory over visiting Janesville Craig. Guerrero also moved from shortstop to the pitching mound in the seventh inning, worked out of a messy jam and picked up the win when the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the frame.

Winning pitcher. Game winning hit.

You don't see that every day.

The awards are pouring in for Middleton senior Caden Van Buren.

The Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club named Van Buren the Madison Area Sportsperson of the Year. The awards event is set for June 3 at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

Van Buren was also one of just 32 seniors in the state to earn the WIAA Scholar Athlete Award.

Van Buren led the Cardinals to the WIAA Division 1 boys state volleyball championship in Nov., 2025. Van Buren then notched four first place finishes at the boys state swim meet and helped Middleton win its fourth straight state championship in Feb., 2026.

Van Buren was a four-year letterwinner in both volleyball and swimming. He helped Middleton win the 2023 state volleyball title, helped the swimmers win four straight state championships, and won 10 individual state championships in swimming.

There were times when Middleton’s girls soccer team seemingly stepped in a pothole against visiting Verona on May 12.

Times when the Cardinals tripped a bit and stumbled.

“Mental breakdowns,” MHS coach Mary Duffy called them.

What there were not, however, were times when the Cardinals let off the gas.

And that’s why, even in the absolute final seconds with defeat all but inevitable, the Cardinals managed one last attempt to equalize, a strike by sophomore Sydney Hewuse from 10 yards beyond the box that was clean, but sailed wide left.

The horn sounded, and the result was a 3-2, Big Eight Conference loss to the Wildcats, the 10th-ranked team in the state according to the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association poll.

Despite falling behind by two goals, though, in the very early going, the Cardinals did not fold.

Not even close.

Middleton’s girls track and field team finished in third place at the Big Eight Conference meet, while the Cardinals’ boys were fourth.

Sun Prairie East won the girls meet with 157.5 points while Verona was second at 135. Middleton was a distant third at 81.5, while Madison Memorial (65) and Madison La Follette (64) rounded out the top five.

On the boys’ side, Verona won the team title with 139 points, narrowly edging Sun Prairie East (137). Janesville Parker was third with 94 points, while Middleton (86) and Sun Prairie West (84) rounded out the top five.

Here were the Cardinals’ top-10 finishers.

GIRLS

• Sofia Dergacheva won the 100-meter hurdles (15.40).

• Middleton’s 800-meter relay team of Eire Riley, Andrea Wipperfurth, Noel Neuser and Abby Arnold was second (1:47.01).

• The Cardinals’ 800-meter relay team of Andrea Wipperfurth, Lea Gancova, Abby Arnold and Noel Neuser was second (4:10.38).

The WIAA Division 1 softball postseason begins next week.

And Middleton hopes to pick up steam before then.

That’s because the Cardinals dropped two of three games last week and saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

Middleton fell to Janesville Craig, 5-3, on May 12. The Cardinals routed Janesville Parker, 22-4, on May 14, then dropped a 7-6 decision to Madison West on May 15.

Middleton is now 14-9 overall and sits in third place in the Big Eight Conference at 9-5.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Janesville Craig 5, Middleton 3 — The host Cougars snapped the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak on May 12.

Middleton second baseman Kylie Klock went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while catcher Hailey Stroede had two doubles and scored a run. Pitcher Cece Smith also went 2-for-3, while right fielder Lily Kulow had an RBI.

Smith took the loss after allowing five earned runs in six innings.

It’s rare when your No. 2 catcher is also one of your two team captains.

Then again, Brad Koeller isn't your typical reserve.

“He's earned the right to be one of our captains,” Middleton baseball Brent Jorgensen said of Koeller. “He brings energy, positivity, toughness, and all the other characteristics you'd want out of a leader on your team.”

Those qualities were in clear view on May 14.

Koeller — thrust into the lineup following an injury to standout catcher Tyler Vogt — delivered one of the biggest hits of Middleton’s season. Koeller ripped a base hit to right field scoring freshman Teddy Kalscheur with two outs in the 12^th inning to propel the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over Verona in a marathon affair that lasted 3 ½ hours.

How low can they go?

Right now, there seems to be almost no number that’s too low for Middleton’s boys golf team to hit.

The No. 1 ranked Cardinals fired a 2-over-par, 290 and won the 15-team Spartan Invite at Blackhawk Country Club on May 4.

Two days later, Middleton shattered that school record by shooting a 4-under-par, 276 at the Janesville Parker Triangular.

“It appears like the guys are peaking at a good time,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said.

That’s for sure.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

SPARTAN INVITE

Middleton senior Sammy Forslund shot an eye-popping 8-under, 64. That tied the school record held by Kip Sullivan, who shot a 64 at Cold Water Canyon in Wisconsin Dells in 2019.

Forslund made six birdies and shot a 6-under, 30, on the front nine. He then fired a 2-under, 34 on the back nine during his record setting day.

Middleton’s girls softball team had their best week of the season.

The Cardinals went 5-0 with two wins over Verona, and victories over Stevens Point, Burlington and Oregon.

Middleton improved to 13-7 overall and is 8-3 in the Big Eight Conference.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 5, Verona 0 — Sophomore Cece Smith struck out 13 and allowed just three hits to lead the host Cardinals past the Wildcats on May 5.

Smith threw strikes on 68 of her 100 pitches, walked one, allowed just one runner to reach second base and struck out the side in two different innings.

Middleton erupted for five runs in the fifth to break a scoreless tie.

It was a tough week for Middleton’s baseball team.

The Cardinals dropped two of three games, including a pair to Big Eight Conference co-leading Sun Prairie East.

The Cardinals are 11-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big Eight Conference. Sun Prairie East and Verona share the conference lead at 9-2, while Middleton has slipped to fifth place in the league.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Sun Prairie East 7, Middleton 2 — East raced to a 7-0 lead and rolled past host Middleton on May 5.

MHS starter Brody Kalscheur allowed seven runs (five earned) in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss.

Middleton managed just five hits, but did get RBIs from left fielder Anthony Pelliteri and center fielder Eytan D’Onofrio.