December 2014

VERONA — When C.J. Fermanich has the basketball in his hands, good things often happen.

So when Middleton’s sophomore point guard attacked the basket in the waning seconds of the first half last Friday night, teammate Tyree Eady knew exactly where he needed to be as well.

Fermanich delivered a beautiful pass in the paint to Eady who sank a layup an instant before the halftime buzzer sounded. Middleton rode that momentum to a 70-61 victory over host Verona in a Big Eight Conference boys basketball game.

“You have two athletic, heady, experienced sophomores,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “They have grown up playing so much basketball and know each other so well. Most teams would expect C.J. to go all the way to the rim, but he made that extra pass for the easy lay in.

VERONA — The past and present collided for Jeff Kind Thursday night. And in a game dripping with irony, Middleton’s girls basketball coach left with one of the more memorable victories of his stellar career.

Kind notched his 500^th career win when his Cardinals rallied for a thrilling 65-62 win over host Verona in an early-season clash of Big Eight Conference titans.

Middleton senior guard Elizabeth Norregaard put on a shooting clinic, making a remarkable 8-of-11 three-point shots and matching her career-high with 32 points. Interestingly, Norregaard’s performance came against Verona coach Angie Murphy (Halbleib), the finest player in Middleton history who was integral in Kind building the program to where it is today.

It all added up to a win Kind and the Cardinals will remember for a long, long time.

Middleton’s boys swimming team will have a blast from the past this season.
And what a blast it is.

Sam Niesen, one of the more accomplished swimmers in school history, has returned to be the Cardinals’ head coach. And Middleton — which began its season at the Brookfield East Invitational Tuesday — is expecting a terrific year under its new leader.

“So far, our time together has gone rather smoothly,” Niesen said. “There are a few things we need to work on as a team to improve, both in and out of the pool. But it’s obviously very early in the season and I’m not concerned about the long run.

“There are quite a few guys on the team that I see with a lot of potential, and I’m extremely excited to see what my coaching can do to break that out.”

If Niesen’s coaching skills come close to his swimming ability, the Cardinals will be in good shape.

Middleton’s hockey team wanted a big, early-season test.

And the Cardinals passed it with flying colors last weekend.

Middleton defeated Waunakee, 7-6, in overtime at the University School Tournament last Friday at Uihlein Ice Arena in Milwaukee.

The Cardinals and University School then battled to a 5-5 tie on Saturday.

“I was really impressed by our development in the short week,” Middleton coach Steffon Walby said. “We really played hard and showed a ton of grit.”

Middleton’s Wes Rock scored the game-winning goal against Waunakee. That capped an impressive offensive performance in which seven different Cardinals scored.

Middleton trailed, 6-5, late in regulation. But Jordan Hylbert’s goal with just 2:51 left in the third period forced overtime.

The Cardinals also got goals from Nolan Kouba, Casey Harper, Daylor Reifsteck, Colin Butler and Eric Karwoski.