June 2021

Wed
30
Jun
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Cardinals stumble in state semifinals

A point here. A double fault there.

A winner here. An ace there.

The boys tennis teams from Middleton and Marquette split two matches this season that were Spandex-tight. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Marquette’s win came in the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals held at the Menards Tennis Center in Eau Claire last Saturday.

The Hilltoppers won all three doubles matches and edged Middleton, 4-3. The Cardinals had snuck past Marquette, 4-3, back on May 26.

Middleton, which also defeated Eau Claire Memorial, 7-0, in the state quarterfinals last Friday, ended the year 23-2. Marquette, which lost in the state finals to Brookfield East, went 22-3 on the season.

“Overall I thought the team was well-prepared and we played our best tennis all year at team state,” Middleton coach Tony Mirasola said. “From top to bottom we did play very well.

Wed
30
Jun
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Pansegrau wins state title in the 3,200

LA CROSSE – In her previous appearance at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet as a freshman, Lauren Pansegrau had to settle for second-best, with a runner-up finish in the 3,200-meter run.

The Middleton junior distance star added to an already impressive résumé, though, by reaching the top of the podium in her return engagement at state.

Pansegrau, who had earlier placed second in the 1,600, left no doubt who was top dog in the 3,200, easily claiming her first state track and field title in a time of 10 minutes, 21.6 seconds at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex last Saturday.

Onalaska senior Kora Malecek was second in 10:29.33.

Cardinals’ sophomore Zaira Malloy-Salgado finished 11th in 11:18.57.

“I’ve been working real hard this year,” Pansegrau said. “It’s been a long season, especially not getting to run track my sophomore season. It’s been really fun.

Wed
30
Jun
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Meyer second at state in triple jump

LA CROSSE — Jackson Meyer was in search of the triple crown of jumps.

The Middleton senior qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet in the high jump, long jump and triple jump with his sights set on individual titles in each event.

Although Meyer wasn’t able to pull off that stellar feat — while competing in all three events in one day instead of over the traditional two-day event — it was still a memorable day.

Meyer capped a shining prep career for the Cardinals with a runner-up finish in the triple jump, recording a mark of 45 feet, 1.5 inches on his last attempt in the finals at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex last Saturday.

“It was crazy,” Middleton head coach Joe Line said of the rainy conditions that lasted throughout the meet. “He was close to not making finals, but he pulled off a (44-8.25) on his third jump.

Wed
30
Jun
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Middleton tops Ashton, Dells

Middleton’s Home Talent League has won the Northern Section’s East Division every year since 2016.

With the division as good as ever, the 29ers fully understood the importance of Sunday’s game against first place Ashton. And Middleton delivered arguably its finest performance of the year.

The 29ers got a pitching gem from Ross Hellenbrand, sensational defense and toppled the visiting A’s, 2-1.

Middleton also downed Wisconsin Dells, 11-1, last Friday and is now 4-1 in the division. Ashton and Cross Plains are 4-1, as well.

“Ashton’s a really good team,” Middleton manager Brandon Hellenbrand said. “This was a huge win for us.”

Ross Hellenbrand threw the first 6 1/3 innings, allowed seven hits, struck out two and walked two. Drew Farrell threw the final 2 2/3 allowing three hits, while striking out two and walking one.

Thu
24
Jun
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'Comeback Kids' out of heroics

Comebacks had become the norm.

Middleton’s baseball team rallied twice in the final days of the regular season and won games where it was down to its last strike.

The Cardinals surged past DeForest in the last two innings of their WIAA Division 1 regional final on June 17. And Middleton stunned Madison Memorial with a five-run seventh inning on their way to an 8-6 win in the sectional semifinals Tuesday.

But the ‘Comeback Kids’ came up one rally short in their bid to reach the state tournament.

A few hours after ousting Madison Memorial, Middleton fell to Onalaska, 2-1, in the sectional finals Tuesday in Baraboo. The Cardinals rallied for one run in the seventh, but left runners stranded on third and second to end the game.

Middleton, which was gunning for its first trip to state since 2016, won 14 of its final 18 games and finished the year 19-10. Onalaska improved to 16-9 and reached the state tournament for the first time since 1994.

Thu
24
Jun
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Davis and Pansegrau lead girls to state

Kobi Davis was the sole Middleton girls athlete to win an individual title at the Madison Memorial Sectional track and field meet at Mansfield Stadium on June 17.

The senior thrower will have plenty of company, though, when the Cardinals compete at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field championships this weekend.

That includes sophomore Madilyn Vander Sanden, who helped Middleton sweep the top two places in the shot put competition. The duo will be making their state meet debuts. Davis also qualified in the discus with a runner-up finish in the event at sectionals.

“I’m so happy,” said Davis, who remained unbeaten in the shot put this season with a winning mark of 39 feet, 10.25 inches that she recorded on her third throw in prelims. “I hoped throughout the entire season Maddie would make it, and she did. I’m so proud of her. I’m really glad she’s coming with me.”

Thu
24
Jun
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Calvin headed to state in three events

MADISON — Quinn Calvin was exhausted at the end of his final sectional track and field meet.

The Middleton senior sprinter and jumper was wearing a wide smile, though, as he exchanged congratulations with his Cardinals’ teammates.

Calvin qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet in the 200-meter dash, long jump and 1,600-meter relay at the Madison Memorial Sectional at Mansfield Stadium last Thursday.

“He made it to state in the long jump as a sophomore and really wanted to get back there in that event,” Middleton boys track and field coach Joe Line said of Calvin, who was 13th in the long jump at the 2019 state meet.

“He just missed qualifying in the 4x200 relay. He was pretty upset in that. So he really brought it in the 200 and the long jump. He was pretty determined the rest of the meet.”

Calvin wasn’t finished just yet despite completing his three-event assignment.

Thu
24
Jun
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Tennis Cards perform well at state

They played well throughout the weekend.

They competed hard, and for the most part, held their seeds.

Now, Middleton’s boys tennis team hopes to use its experience at the WIAA Division 1 individual state meet as a springboard to the state team meet this weekend.

The Cardinals sent three singles players and two doubles teams to the individual state tournament last weekend in Eau Claire and had respectable results.

Top singles player Koji Heinemann won a pair of matches, before falling in the round of 16. No. 2 singles player Ian Connell won a match, then lost in the round of 32.

No. 3 singles player Jonathon Kim also won a match, before losing in the round of 32. Middleton’s two doubles teams of Gene Kim and Kieran Gopal, and Anders Clark and Jacob Mandelbrot didn’t get out of the first round.

“I thought all of my players competed hard and played well at the tournament,” Middleton coach Tony Mirasola said.

Thu
24
Jun
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Future's bright for girls softball team

It was a year they’ll never forget.

They won 20 games for the first time in more than a decade. They chased a conference championship. And they laid the groundwork for future success.
Unfortunately for Middleton’s girls softball team, it came to an end on June 16.

Verona defeated the Cardinals, 13-3, in a WIAA Division 1 regional final stopped after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Middleton finished its first year under coach Brittany Carl with a 21-6 record.

“Verona always pushes us. There is no wiggle room in games against the Wildcats,” Carl said. “Their offense has the ability to change the game with a single swing from any spot in the lineup. That's exactly what we saw happen.”

That’s for sure.

Verona belted three home runs — including a grand slam by pitcher Alyssa Bostley. Hilary Blomberg and Sydney Toman also homered for the Wildcats.
Verona pounded out 14 hits, while Middleton managed just five.

Thu
24
Jun
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Baseball Cardinals win regional title

There was no panic, no anxiety.

They remained calm, composed and aggressive all at once.

And because of it, Middleton’s baseball team advanced to a WIAA Division 1 sectional for the first time since 2018.

The Cardinals rallied from a deficit on three different occasions and toppled DeForest, 7-5, in a regional final on June 17. Middleton improved to 18-9, while DeForest finished the year 19-4.

“We were down early in the game but we didn't panic, stayed consistent with our approach, and continued to put the pressure on Deforest,” Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen said. “Overall, it was a great win and the boys came to play with great energy.”

Middleton trailed, 3-2, heading to the sixth inning when it took the lead for good.

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