Sports

It has been more than a decade since the Middleton 29ers were able to hoist the Sunday Home Talent League championship trophy.

The 29ers got some early practice last Thursday when they cruised to the Night League title.

But that was just a warmup for their final goal.

On a beautiful, sun-splashed Sunday afternoon — a perfect setting for playoff baseball —Middleton moved one step closer to its first HTL Final 4 championship since 2013, as well as a perfect season.

Middleton designated hitter Andrew Zimmerman homered and doubled, and right-hander Drew Farrell delivered another masterful performance as the 29ers earned a hard-fought, 7-3, victory over visiting Monona in the second round of the Final 4 round robin tournament at Sorenson-Bakken Field.

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

So it was that Kenosha Indian Trail got nothing despite a promising drive late in the second quarter of last Friday’s non-conference game against Middleton at Otto Breitenbach Stadium.

No game-tying or go-ahead score. Not even a boost of confidence.

After KIT almost found paydirt, the Cardinals marched the other way, executing a 2-minute drive for a half-ending 34-yard field goal by Luke Sheehan that ultimately propelled Middleton to a 31-6 victory.

“It helped us find our rhythm,” Middleton co-coach Joe Poehls said of the scoring drive just before halftime. “And it gave us an opportunity to grow, because we were just in a really adverse situation where they were about to score — they were knocking on the door.

“It did a lot for us to help us find our tempo, and find our confidence … get in rhythm with each other.”

It wasn’t a dagger. Not even close.

There were speeches that brought many to tears.

There was high level fundraising once again.

And of course, there was golf. Very enjoyable golf.

The fourth annual Coaches vs. Cancer Team Scramble — co-hosted by Middleton and Waunakee — took place Aug. 25 at Maple Bluff Country Club.

Bay Port won the 24-team tournament, shooting a sensational 17-under-par 57. Middleton was second with a 59, while Tomah was third (62) and both Sussex Hamilton and DeForest tied for fourth (65).

The golf itself, though, was secondary.

Once again, the fundraising was the story as the teams combined to raise nearly $50,000 for the American Cancer Society. Middleton led the way raising $10,007.

“The girls truly enjoyed their day together, as they normally don’t get the chance to all golf in one group and play a scramble,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “The day reminded us that this event is about so much more than golf.”

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team continued their impressive start to the season, rolling past Sun Prairie East, 142-41, on Aug. 29.

“The girls are off to a great start this season, and have been impressive with their swims both at meets and in practice,” Middleton first-year coach Andrew Cotton said. “I am happiest about the close knit group we have this year and the positive culture we are continuing to grow.” 

Middleton’s 200-yard medley relay team of Tae Martin, Rian Jost, Abigail Frommelt and Sulia Miller finished first. The team of Addy Hynes, Helen Machleidt, Addi Haack and Clara Kiehl was second, while the quartet of Anna Dart, Gianna Gabert, Addie Dorn and Kaylee Burt was third.

Middleton’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Miller, Haack, Jost and Jane Garlock was first, while the foursome of Gabert, Abby Pralat, Lydia Keebler and Dorn was third.

So much for rebuilding.

It looks like Middleton’s boys soccer team — the two-time WIAA Division 1 state champs — will be reloading this fall.

The Cardinals opened their new season with a 6-0 win over visiting Beaver Dam on Aug. 28.

Sophomore Cormac Carlson had three goals and an assist, while senior Brennan Mauer had two goals.

“A good start to the season,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said. “I really liked our ability to possess the ball all game.”

Middleton got off to a slow start, but in the 13^th minute Carlson scored on an assist from senior Eli Knutowski to give Middleton a 1-0 lead. Mauer converted a free kick in the 25^th minute and Mauer scored off a corner kick in the 31^st minute to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Middleton’s cross country teams fared well at the season-opening Hartland Arrowhead Invite on Aug. 28.

The Cardinals’ boys finished fourth out of 17 teams, while Middleton’s girls were sixth.

Marquette won the boys’ race with 63 points, while Homestead was second (81). Wisconsin Lutheran (129), Middleton (163) and Oak Creek (193) rounded out the top five.

“I thought it was a solid opening meet for us,” Middleton coach Brian Finnel said. “The boys ran with control and showed a lot of promise for what’s ahead this season. 

“Unfortunately, Zach Tang went down while running in the top-10, which affected our team score. We’re hopeful he’ll be back soon.”

Last year is irrelevant.

Past successes guarantees nothing in the future.

These are some of the messages Middleton’s boys volleyball coach Dylan Griffith is stressing to his remarkably gifted team. And if the Cardinals heed that advice, don't be surprised to see them hoist a state championship trophy in early November.

Middleton reached the state title match last season, falling in a thrilling five-set battle to Sussex Hamilton. The Cardinals return all seven players who competed that night in Green Bay and will be the frontrunners to win their second state title in three years.

Griffith, a former MHS standout and the Cardinals’ head coach the last two years, knows he has a special group on his hands. He also wants to make sure, though, that Middleton doesn’t rest on its laurels as it chases a championship.

Take care of the tradition.

That’s a mantra that Middleton’s boys soccer program has preached for decades now.

That won’t change in 2025. But the task certainly won’t be easy.

Middleton, which has won back-to-back WIAA Division 1 state titles, suffered enormous losses from that group — including state Player of the Year Jimmy Murphy.

The Cardinals return just one starter from last year’s state title team, but coach Kevin Pauls insists the standard is the standard. So when it comes to taking care of the tradition, Pauls believes Middleton will do exactly that.

“I will still reference former player and assistant coach Dave Borslien every time I'm asked this question,” Pauls said. “We've got guys that have been patiently waiting and now it's their turn to shine! We'll reload.”

Pauls knows that will be an immense challenge.

Madison Memorial and Madison West were the state’s dominant girls swimming and diving programs between 1970-2000.

Hartland Arrowhead became the gold standard the first 15 years of this century.

Since 2016, though, Middleton has been the state’s elite outfit.

The Cardinals won three straight state titles between 2016-’18 under then-coach Lauren Cabalka. Middleton has also won the last two state championships under coach R.J. Leiferman.

Leiferman stepped down this offseason, though, and former assistant Andrew Cotton takes over a program that seems poised to capture a ‘Three-peat’ this fall.

“We try to focus on our team and what we can control,” said Cotton, trying to downplay expectations. “We work on taking the season day by day and looking for ways to build our team and help it grow and improve.”

GREEN BAY — Joey Passaglia knew what could happen next. And he knew that the Middleton football team’s 157-mile, 2 1/2-hour bus ride home would feel excruciatingly longer if this kept up.

There were 7 minutes, 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals’ season opener at Bay Port on Aug. 21, and things were, as the Middleton senior quarterback admitted afterward, spiraling.

The Cardinals had just been stopped on a fourth-down play inside the Bay Port 5-yard line — a call that had Middleton co-head coaches Joe Poehls and Tim Simon co-blowing a gasket when the officiating crew didn’t even initially bother to call for a measurement — and the reigning WIAA defending Division 1-champion Pirates had turned that debatable call into an 80-yard Matt Stevens-to-Ethan Orlando touchdown on the next play from scrimmage.