September 2021

Zaira Malloy-Salgado is one of the top cross country runners in the state.

The Middleton junior is often lost in the shadow of her standout teammate Lauren Pansegrau, though.

At last Thursday’s Hartland Arrowhead Invite, though, Pansegrau took the day off and Malloy-Salgado stole the show.

Malloy-Salgado won the star-studded meet that featured 139 total runners and many of the state’s best. Malloy-Salgado helped Middleton finish first at the 20-team event.

“We came away with many PRs and happy faces from Arrowhead,” Middleton coach Alexa Richardson said.

None happier than Malloy-Salgado’s, who finished the 5,000-meter race in 18 minutes, 9.40 seconds. That was more than 15 seconds faster than runner-up Lily Kriegel of Whitefish Bay.

“I had Lauren do a workout instead of racing,” Richardson said. “That gave Zaira a chance to claim the spotlight, winning the varsity race. Zaira was very patient, went out and executed her plan perfectly.”

Junior setter Evin Jordee was one happy camper last Saturday at Middleton High School.

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Middleton hosted the Cardinal Invite, which included 15 prep girls volleyball teams.

“I’m happy to have it back,” said Jordee, one of the Cardinals’ three co-captains. “It’s a great day, just getting to play all day.

“It was super fun my freshman year. Now being an upperclassman, it’s fun to show the underclassmen what it’s like to host a tournament and have all of our fans here along with a lot of teams we know.”

Middleton lost in two sets to Verona, 25-17 and 25-15, in the semifinals of the Gold Bracket championship round to finish in a tie for third-place.

Junior outside hitter and co-captain Jordan LaScala, who also competed in this tournament as a freshman, enjoyed the atmosphere on and off the court.

Middleton's boys soccer team has jumped to No. 8 in the WIAA Division 1 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association poll. And the Cardinals showed why last week.

Middleton went 2-1 against a stout schedule.

The Cardinals defeated Madison East, 3-1, last Thursday. Middleton then toppled DC Everest, 5-0, at the Baraboo Tournament last Friday.

The Cardinals then fell to Lakeville North (Ill.), 3-0, at the Baraboo Tournament last Saturday.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 3, Madison East 1 — Chris Vanden Boom had two goals and an assist as the Cardinals toppled the Purgolders.

“East has always played us tough and this was no different,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said. “They were very dangerous with some long balls in the middle of the field and I thought our back line did well to slow them up.

Middleton’s girls tennis team finished in a tie for second place at the Nicolet “Sweet 16” Invite last Friday and Saturday.

The tournament featured 16 players in all seven flights and teams were awarded points accordingly. So, for example, a first place finisher in their flight earned 16 points, second place notched 15 points, etc.

Divine Savior Holy Angels won the tournament with 93 points, while Middleton and Whitefish Bay tied for second at 85. Eau Claire Memorial was fourth with 80 and Neenah was fifth with 78.

Here’s how the Cardinals fared:

• Sonya Agapov, No. 2 singles, first place (16 points) — Agapov had three comfortable wins to reach the finals. Then the Cardinals’ junior defeated Neenah’s Annalise Zenzick, 6-2, 3-6, 10-5, in the finals.

Agapov opened with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Oshkosh West’s Evan Giordano, then she bested Badger’s Tinker Trent, 6-4, 6-3. In the semifinals, Agapov toppled DSHA’s Grace Packee, 6-2, 6-1.