Sports

The Whitefish Bay Invite is traditionally one of the elite boys volleyball tournaments in the state.

So when Middleton left with the championship last Saturday, it was certainly safe to call the Cardinals one of the state’s elite teams.

Sixth-ranked Middleton went 4-0 on the day, didn’t lose a set and capped its terrific effort with a 25-21, 25-15 win over defending state champion Catholic Memorial in the championship match.

“I am super proud of the way we played throughout the day,” Middleton first year coach Dylan Griffith said. “There weren’t many moments where we had to take a mental reset, which as a result made for some good all-around play from everyone.”

Middleton opened with a 25-22, 25-22 win over Nicolet in its first pool play match. Teddy Young led the way with eight aces.

The Cardinals followed that with a 25-18, 25-14 win over Burlington to wrap up pool play. Middleton had eight aces as a team against the Demons.

It was a rough week for Middleton girls volleyball team.

The Cardinals dropped Big Eight Conference matches to Sun Prairie West and Fort Atkinson. The Cardinals then went 2-2 at the Westosha Invite.

“A week of very tough opponents with some of the top players we have seen in the state,” Middleton coach Ben White said. “It was odd as we were coming off a big break in the middle of the season. The break allowed us to work on some things, but also probably wasn't the best for us to keep the momentum we had going into the end of September.”

Here's a recap of the Cardinals’ week:

• Sun Prairie West 3, Middleton 1 — The Wolves defeated the Cardinals, 25-23, 11-25, 25-23, 25-20 on Oct. 3.

Keaten Davis had 10 kills for Middleton, while Andrea Wipperfurth had seven kills and 14 assists. Sadie Newcomb had eight kills, Laina Gustafson had four blocks, Haley Stoffregan had 15 assists and Amber Wahlgren added 14 digs.

Their path will be daunting.

But Middleton’s boys soccer team has conquered most challenges that have come its way this season.

The Cardinals received the No. 2 seed in their 16-team sectional, behind only top-seeded Hartland Arrowhead. Middleton opens the postseason Oct. 17 when it hosts 15^th-seeded Madison La Follette in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal at 7 p.m.

The regional finals are Oct. 21, while the sectional semifinals and finals are Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, respectively.

“It’s slightly disappointing from our standpoint,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said of being the No. 2 seed. “Arrowhead (13-0-4) has an undefeated season going, so kudos to them. But we thought when you really looked at who we played and beat compared to who they played and beat we were a little better. Nonetheless, the No. 2 seed is a great accomplishment in our sectional and we're excited to get started.”

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team is in the midst of a memorable season.

And the Cardinals added another chapter last week.

Middleton won the star-studded, 18-team Cedarburg Invitational last Saturday. The Cardinals finished with 549.5 points and edged runner-up Arrowhead (523.5). Muskego (335), Madison West (225.5) and Whitefish Bay (169) rounded out the top five.

Middleton also rolled past Sun Prairie West, 115-54, in a dual meet last Friday.

“We had another strong week,” Middleton coach R.J. Leiferman said.

The highlight came at the Cedarburg Invite, which featured many of the state’s top swimmers and teams.

Middleton’s quartet of Sulia Miller, Lily Mair, Audrey Alexander and Piper Garcia Hall won the 200-yard freestyle relay, while the foursome of Clara Kiehl, Hannah Machleidt, Anna Dart and Tait Haag was third.

Middleton’s cross country teams typically bring many younger, less experienced runners to the Wisconsin Lutheran Invite.

This allows the varsity athletes to rest and recover heading into the postseason, while the JV runners get a chance to shine.

So the Cardinals were thrilled when both of their teams finished ninth overall on Oct. 5.

“For sitting five of our top seven runners, we were really happy with these results,” Middleton girls co-coach Kelly Julian said.

Wauwatosa East finished first among the 15 girls teams with 69 points. Middleton was ninth with 271 points.

Middleton freshman Josephine Schiferl was 38^th overall in 21 minutes, 27.0 seconds. Junior Avery Tiller was 48^th (21:51.60), senior Rory Rhodes was 59^th (22:03.30), sophomore Evelyn Mclay was 66^th (22:16.70), senior Meredith Pansegrau was 78^th (22:55.50).

WINDSOR — Recent history suggests otherwise, but Vivian Cressman knows better.

Cressman, a senior on Middleton’s girls golf team, understands how hard it is to make it to the final two days of the season.

“Getting to state is never a given. It takes work,” she said following Monday’s WIAA Division 1 DeForest Sectional held at Lake Windsor Country Club. “I knew this was going to be a really competitive sectional, so I knew the team had to play well.”

And?

“And, we did that today which is great,” Cressman said.

The Cardinals did, indeed, pass the test.

Waunakee won the sectional, edging the Cardinals for the title, 312-315. But on a sun-soaked, summer-like early fall afternoon, Middleton’s score was good enough to advance, as the top two teams and top three individuals from non-qualifying teams earned trips to state.

Benjamin Franklin famously said that there are only two things that are certain in life — death and taxes.

Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, never witnessed Middleton football.

Much like death and taxes, Middleton qualifying for the playoffs has become a virtual certainty.

The Cardinals toppled Janesville Parker, 35-21, last Friday and earned a trip to the postseason for the 28^th straight year. Middleton and Hartland Arrowhead are tied for the state’s longest playoff streak among Division 1 schools.

“It’s definitely a source of pride for the program,” said Middleton co-interim coach Tim Simon. “A streak like that is really impressive.”

Middleton improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Eight Conference. Parker fell to 4-3, 2-3.

The Cardinals now finish the season by hosting Madison West (2-3, 2-5) Friday at 7 p.m. and are at Madison East (1-4, 1-6) on Oct. 12.

Sometimes the best-intentioned plans go astray.

Middleton boys soccer coach Kevin Pauls scheduled a pair of non-conference games for last week to help prepare the Cardinals for their upcoming seeding meeting and postseason play.

But after the WIAA released its sectional brackets, matches against Kettle Moraine and Lake Geneva Badger lost their luster.

So when the seeding meeting takes place on Sunday, Middleton’s 4-0 victories over both the Lasers and Badgers, respectively, won’t have as large an impact on a potential No. 1 seed as Pauls hoped.

However, Pauls still welcomed the competition.

“Both games were good non-conference games that should both be helpful in our quest for the No. 1 seed,” he said. 

Brian Finnel is a modest fellow.

Middleton’s boys cross country coach doesn’t want credit or the spotlight.

But the Evan Kratochwill Memorial Invitational — which was started in 2022 by Finnel — continues to be a remarkable success. The event which honors Kratochwill — a former MHS runner who passed away from a double vehicle crash in the Town of Middleton on Oct. 2, 2021 — was a huge hit again last Saturday.

“Brian Finnel really had an incredible vision for this meet and a way to honor Evan and the Kratochwill family,” Middleton’s girls co-coach Kelly Julian said. “He has put so much work into making this meet about the Cross Plains community, the spirit of the sport and a beautiful way to celebrate a young man who means so much to this program. We're really lucky to have him at the lead for so many reasons.”

Making things even better was Finnel’s team shined at its own invite.

Winning is always a blast.

Winning your own invitational is even more enjoyable.

Middleton’s girls swimming team did just that last Saturday, winning the 13-team Cardinal Relays.

Middleton finished with 236 points and edged runner-up Verona (217) for the title. Arrowhead (150), Madison West (111) and Oregon (82) rounded out the top five.

Middleton won eight of the 11 races and received several terrific performances from its ‘B’ team in many of those events.

“We were really happy how our team swam at the Cardinal Relays, winning eight of the 11 events, and coming away with a close win in the final event of the meet,” Middleton coach R.J. Leiferman said. “We were also really proud of the depth we showed. Our ‘B’ relay was the fastest ‘B’ relay in 10 of the 11 events.”