Sports

All gas, no brake.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has used that phrase repeatedly during his seven seasons in Titletown. At times, LaFleur has displayed a lead foot. Others, he’s looked for the emergency brake.

If the season-opener was an indicator of what’s to come, look for Middleton’s boys basketball team to stay in fifth gear all season.

The Cardinals kept the pedal to the metal throughout, made big plays down the stretch and edged Sun Prairie West, 76-71, in overtime on Dec. 4.

Middleton also rolled past Janesville Parker, 72-31, two days later to begin the year 2-0 overall and in the Big Eight Conference.

“Oh, yeah, it's pretty fun,” said senior guard Jackson Guerrero, who led Middleton with 26 points. “Just running up and down. I mean, we make a lot of mistakes, but those will improve and get better.

Expectations are sky high once again.

And Middleton’s boys swimming team showed exactly why in its season-opening weekend.

The Cardinals went 2-0 at the Verona Triangular on Dec. 5, defeating the host Wildcats, 108-73 and rolling past Madison East, 131-38.

Middleton then finished first at the star-studded, 13-team Nicolet Invite on Dec. 6.

Middleton, which has won three straight WIAA Division 1 state championships, took a terrific first step as it guns for a four-peat.

“Recalling where we left off last year and how we looked at this first meet, I feel really good about our season and what is to come,” Middleton coach Wes Lagerhausen said.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ two meets.

VERONA TRIANGULAR

Middleton defeated Verona, 108-73, and toppled Madison East, 131-38.

Here are the Cardinals’ top three finishes:

FIRST PLACE

Kevin Bavery has been coaching high school basketball since 1982.

He’s been a varsity coach since 1991.

Despite nearly 4 ½ decades in the sport, Bavery remains one of the more adaptable coaches you’ll find.

For better or worse, Bavery isn’t married to a certain system or style of play. Instead, he’ll adjust each season based on his personnel.

This winter, Bavery believes the Cardinals’ best path to victory will be playing fast and relying on their depth. So Middleton will push the pace and substitute with great frequency, trying to wear down opponent’s in the process.

“Without having played a game yet, what stands out is our ability to exert energy,” said Bavery, whose team hosts Sun Prairie West Thursday in their season-opener. “The overall skill set of handling, passing, attacking the basket and knocking down shots is higher. Rebounding has to be a big area of focus. We can't get out and run without the ball.”

What a difference a year makes.

Case in point, Middleton’s girls basketball team opened the 2025-‘26 season with back-to-back victories over Madison East and Oak Creek.

Rewind to the 2024-25 season when the Cardinals struggled to a disappointing 0-6 start.

But with 10 returning letterwinners, including three starters, Middleton fourth-year head coach Rashard Griffith has high expectations for this season.

“We talked about that at the exit meetings at the end of the season,” Griffith said after Middleton won six of its last seven regular season games a year ago. “We’re excited we had a winning record in conference and want to build on that. We need to pick up where we left off last year, but also need to be better, too.”

Middleton finished 11-14 last season, after dropping a 78-52 decision at Madison Memorial in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal. And the Cardinals are just 30-45 in Griffith’s first three seasons.

Middleton’s boys soccer team had another tremendous season.

The Cardinals went 17-4-2 overall, 8-1 in the Big Eight Conference and reached a WIAA Division 1 sectional final. Two of Middleton’s losses were to eventual state champion Madison West and a third came vs. state-runner-up Marquette.

So it was no surprise that the Cardinals landed seven players on the all-Big Eight Conference team.

Middleton sophomore forward Cormac Carlson, senior midfielder Brennan Mauer and senior defender Sean Adzomfoa were named first-team all-conference.

Senior midfielder Yijoon Kang was named second-team all-league, while sophomore midfielder Sully Davis, senior defender Sam Keith and senior keeper JJ Probasco were all named honorable-mention all-conference.

WAUKESHA — The shirts said it all.

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team — winners of two straight WIAA Division 1 state championships — arrived at this year’s meet inside Waukesha South High School with shirts that read: “Let the Storm Rage On.”

Boy, did it ever.

Middleton finished with 363.5 points, outdistancing runner-up Arrowhead (216) by a remarkable 147.5 points to capture its third straight title. That was the greatest margin of victory since Arrowhead’s 223-point win over second place Middleton back in 2005.

The Cardinals’ 363.5 points were also the third-most in state history, trailing only the 2005 Arrowhead team (407) and the 2003 Arrowhead squad (404).

The best boys volleyball team in Wisconsin this season — and arguably the finest in state history — did what you’d expect when it came to postseason awards.

They dominated.

Middleton, which won the state championship with a perfect 39-0 record, landed six players on the all-Big Eight Conference team and placed five on the all-state team.

Senior outside hitter Caden Van Buren was named first-team all-Big Eight Conference, the league’s Player of the Year, and the 2025 state Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association.

It was another memorable season for Middleton’s girls golf team.

And the Cardinals were rewarded, as all five of their golfers were named all-Big Eight Conference, as well as all-state.

Senior Annika Jafferis was named the Big Eight’s Player of the Year and was named second-team all-state by the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Association. Senior Sydney Weiss, junior Addy Schnarr and sophomore Stela Flad were named first-team all-Big Eight and honorable mention all-state. And senior Addie Sloan was named second-team all-Big Eight and honorable-mention all-state.

In addition, Middleton’s Becky Halverson was named the Big Eight’s Coach of the Year after the Cardinals went 9-0 in the league, won the conference tournament by 48 strokes and finished fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet.

“All five girls played huge roles in a special season,” Halverson said.

Middleton’s girls volleyball team had five players named all-Big Eight Conference.

Senior setter/rightside Andrea Wipperfurth and sophomore middle hitter Ruby Clooten were named first-team all-conference. Senior defensive specialist Elyssa Ross and senior outside hitter Sadie Newcomb were named second-team all-league, and senior outside hitter Lily Kulow was an honorable-mention all-conference selection.

Wipperfurth, a three year varsity starter, led the Cardinals with 615 assists, an average of 6.5 assists per set. Wipperfurth was also second on the team in aces (37), second in digs (218), fifth in kills with 93 and had an impressive kill percentage of .179.

“Stat stuffer,” Middleton coach Ben White said of Wipperfurth. “Serving, hitting, digging and setting. She could do it all on the volleyball court.

They’ve passed every test they’ve encountered.

Aced every exam that’s come their way.

And now, Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team seems poised to win their third straight WIAA Division 1 state title.

The Cardinals won the Verona Sectional on Nov. 8 with 417 points, outdistancing runner-up Verona (352). Oregon (262), Madison West (260) and Madison Memorial (238) rounded out the top five.

The WIAA Division 1 state meet will now be held on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Waukesha South High School.

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s top finishers at sectionals and their seeds at state.

• Middleton’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of senior Sulia Miller, senior Clara Kiehl, sophomore Abigail Frommelt and sophomore Jane Garlock finished first. That foursome is now seeded first at state, as well.