January 2021

Fri
22
Jan
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Boys hoops team happy to have a season

There were times in the past few weeks when Middleton boys basketball coach Kevin Bavery thought it might be easiest to punt on the 2020-21 season.

The Cardinals didn't have an offseason. Most of the state was playing games, while schools throughout Dane County were in a state of limbo.

“There were times … I thought maybe it was just best for us to officially be done and let everyone move forward emotionally,” Bavery said.

Last week, all it took was a few “thumps” of the ball for Bavery to know he was wrong.

“Once you hear that sound of the ball hitting the floor and you see the 'masked smiles' and see the body language of being around the game again it's pretty invigorating,” Bavery said.

Fri
22
Jan
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Hockey Cardinals hope to shine

Dan Truehl’s happy place has always been the ice rink.

So naturally, Truehl — Middleton’s first year hockey coach — was one happy camper last week.

On Jan. 11, Middleton superintendent Dana Monogue and athletic director Jamie Sims approved the return of winter sports to MHS, with all games to be played outside of Dane County. And for the first time since taking the job last spring, Truehl could do what he enjoys most — coach his Cardinals.

“I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling,” Truehl said. “I took the job in March with all sorts of tasks, goals, and structure to build. Then, just like that everything stopped. It’s been a difficult start to my coaching career at Middleton, but being back on the ice with my coaching staff and our skaters was well worth the wait.”

Fri
22
Jan
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Wrestlers excited for chance to compete

In the classic movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’, Jim Carrey’s character Lloyd Christmas falls in love with a woman named Mary Swanson, who doesn’t return Carrey’s affection.

At one point in the film, Carrey puts it all on the line.

Lloyd Christmas: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?

Mary Swanson: Not good.

Lloyd Christmas: Not good like one in a hundred?

Mary Swanson: I'd say more like one in a million.

Lloyd Christmas: So you're telling me there's a chance?

For the next month, Middleton wrestling coach Kent Weiler is going to channel his inner-Lloyd Christmas and try bucking all of the odds himself.

On Jan. 11, Middleton superintendent Dana Monogue and athletic director Jamie Sims approved the return of winter sports to MHS, with all competitions to be played outside of Dane County.

Fri
22
Jan
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Swimmers fall to Sun Prairie

Middleton’s boys swimming team dropped a 121-49 virtual meet against Sun Prairie last Friday and Saturday.

Cardinals’ sophomore Nick Chirafisi won the 200-yard freestyle and freshman Noah Dorn was fifth. Chirafisi was also second in the 500-yard freestyle, while senior Ian Bohachek was fourth and Dorn was fifth.

Junior Blaise Lin was second in the 100-yard butterfly, while sophomore Emre Gunay was third and sophomore Tyler Choedak was fourth.

Choedak was third in the 200-yard IM and senior Koby Renfert was fourth. Sophomore Theo Wolf was third in the 100-yard backstroke, while senior Colby Livezey was fifth.

Sophomore Jack Madoch was third in the 100-yard freestyle, while senior Joe McNerney was fifth. Bohachek was also third in the 100-yard breaststroke and Renfert was fifth.

Madoch was also fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and senior Alex Starr was fifth.

Fri
22
Jan
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Gymnasts have high hopes

The wait was excruciating.

But now that they’re back, they have big plans.

Middleton superintendent Dana Monogue and athletic director Jamie Sims approved the return of winter sports on Jan. 11, with all competitions to be played outside of Dane County. Now, the Cardinals girls gymnastics team is hoping to make the most of what’s left of their season.

“While things might look very different, we're so excited to be able to have meets, especially knowing sectionals is coming up quickly,” Middleton coach Kari Steck said.

Amazingly, sectionals will arrive on Feb. 18. Between now and then, the Cardinals will try making the most of unique practices and compete in a handful of virtual meets.

Right now, Middleton’s first virtual meet is slated for Feb. 4 against Sun Prairie.

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Thu
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Jan
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Looking for Hope

In January 2009, I was working at the Anamosa Journal-Eureka, a newspaper nestled in the rolling hills of Jones County, Iowa. It’s the county seat and a hotbed for political activity as the vast majority of presidential candidates visit the town at least once while campaigning.

My coworkers and I had all gathered around a single computer screen to watch the presidential inauguration of America’s first Black president, Barack Obama. Most of us had met, or at very least seen him on at least one occasion. He was charismatic, articulate, intelligent and laid back. He easily won over the people of Jones County in 2008 with his message of hope, his promises to repair infrastructure, end the war in Iraq and improve education. 

Thu
14
Jan
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Barbara Meier

BLACK EARTH/MARXVILLE–Barbara Meier, age 88, passed away on Jan. 3, 2021, at UW Hospital after complications from surgery.

Barbara was born in Monroe, on Aug. 13, 1932, to Harold and Deloise (Heiler) Lawver. She graduated from Lodi High School in 1950. She married Albert Meier on April 3, 1951, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Martinsville. He preceded her in death in 1999. Barbara and Albert were the fourth generation to farm the family farm in the Berry Township near Marxville. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, attending the grandchildren’s sporting events and concerts, socializing with friends and reading. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Martinsville.

Thu
14
Jan
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Gerald O. Gunderson

Gerald O. Gunderson  

MIDDLETON–Gerald Olin Gunderson, a man who viewed time in terms of eras and epochs rather than in years or centuries, left us far too soon early on the morning of Jan. 7, 2021, at age 79. 

Jerry was born Jan. 1, 1942, in Green Bay, the oldest of three children born to Joe and Helen (née Fabry), in a family of teachers who valued education, curiosity, and hard work. The Gunderson kids grew up working on their family’s Christmas tree farm in Waushara County, planting and pruning trees in the chill of spring and selling them in the bitter cold of winter.

Thu
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Jan
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Peter (Pete) Norman Bertz

MADISON–Peter Bertz, age 68, of Middleton, passed away peacefully on Jan. 3, 2021, at the Madison VA Hospice.

He is survived by his sister, Lauren and her husband, Mike (Thommen) of Forest Lawn, MD.; his brothers, Paul and his wife, Phoebe (Lewis) of Fredericksburg, VA., Phillip, his wife, Linda (Gill) of Marshfield, and Patrick and his wife, Lorinda (Rainsberger) of Sanford, NCHe was born on April 19, 1952, in Marshfield, the son of John and Jane (Smith) Bertz, originally from Loyal, Wis. Peter graduated from Neillsville High School in 1969 and attended UW-Madison for a short period of time.  

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