Sports

Cope. Prepare. Dominate.

Those three words best describe Middleton's most recent football game against Janesville Craig, and maybe even its season, as the Cardinals have had their share of adversity and lopsided victories.

Injuries have plagued Middleton early in the season, as it’s dealt with the loss of two starting offensive lineman and their most experienced wideout and tight end.

And just this past week, team captain Shane Bick’s father passed away suddenly, leaving the team with heavy hearts and a mental hurdle as they prepared to play Janesville Craig.

But just as they've done for much of the season, Bick and the Cardinals responded, pounding the Cougars, 42-7, in a Big Eight Conference match-up played at Brietenbach Stadium in Middleton last Friday.

It’s been 25 years since Middleton’s boys cross country team hoisted a state championship.

The Cardinals showed last week, though, that drought might come to an end later this fall.

Middleton won the star-studded, 18-team Hartland Arrowhead Invitational last Thursday. The Cardinals, ranked third in the latest state poll, finished with 58 points to easily outdistance No. 2 Arrowhead (98).

Germantown (150), Marquette (155) and Pewaukee (185) rounded out the top five at a meet that included four other state-ranked teams.

“Going into the meet I knew what we could potentially accomplish, but we were coming off a hard week so I wasn't sure how things were going to shake out,” Middleton coach Brian Finnel said. “I think all of us are pretty stoked about the times run, but at the end of the day it's all about the placing for the team.”

Middleton’s girls swimming team has always loved the Brookfield East Invitational.

The Cardinals have never been shy expressing their fondness for the high-level meet.

And there was plenty to love last Saturday.

Defending state champion Middleton steamrolled a gifted field and cruised to the championship at the 12-team meet. The Cardinals finished with 552 points, easily outdistancing runner-up Verona/Mount Horeb (352). Sun Prairie (331.5), Madison Edgewood (248) and Homestead (209) rounded out the top five.

“The first invite is always exciting,” Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka said. “This year, even more so because of the newness of our team. We really wanted to showcase who our team is and emphasize the depth of talent we have.”

The Cardinals did exactly that, with terrific performances up and down the lineup.

Call them the dynamic duo. Or perhaps the terrific twosome.

Middleton golfers Kate Meier and Payton Hodson have been red-hot of late. And the pair of aces are leading the Cardinals to big things.

At last Wednesday’s Balance and Believe Shoot-Out held at Blackhawk Country Club, Meier was first with an even-par 72 and Hodson was fourth with an 80. Those efforts helped Middleton win the 17-team tournament with a 346, eight shots better than runner-up Verona (354).

Middleton also finished second at its own 21-team invite held at Pleasant View Golf Course last Saturday. Hodson finished fourth with a 77 and Meier was fifth with a 79 to power the Cardinals.

“I was happy for Payton and Kate shooting in the 70s,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said.

The Meier-Hodson combo has helped Middleton exceed many expectations this season. With three new varsity members, Hodson and Meier were counted on for big things, and both have delivered.

Middleton’s boys volleyball has extremely high hopes this fall.

And the Cardinals showed exactly why last Saturday.

Middleton went to the 24-team Racine Park Invitational, bested a gifted field and won the star-studded tournament. The Cardinals defeated Milwaukee Pius, 21-10, 21-10, in the championship match.

“Great day,” Middleton coach Ben White said.

That’s putting it mildly.

Middleton opened pool play with a 21-11, 21-10 win over Burlington. Eagan Peters-Michaud led the Cardinals with 10 kills, Thomas Robson had 12 digs and two aces, and setter Andrew Lepage was terrific, as well.

“We had a 3-to-1 kill-to-error ratio, which is a big number,” White said.

Middleton followed that with a 21-11, 21-12, win over Kenosha Bradford.

Peters-Michaud had six kills, Sam Dettman had four kills, Brian Verganz had two blocks and the Cardinals had just three hitting errors.

At the bottom of his daily practice plans, Middleton football coach Tim Simon will often include an inspirational quote.

Last week, two of Simon’s quotes dealt with handling adversity. A third focused on competing.

Simon’s Cardinals were clearly listening.

Middleton held visiting Madison West to just 146 total yards, made significant strides on offense and routed the Regents, 36-0.

Middleton, which had lost at Sun Prairie, 34-6, just six days earlier, improved to 2-1. West, which won its first two games by a combined scored of 41-7, fell to 2-1.

“We felt like the key to showing leadership and being a great team is how we deal with adversity,” Middleton senior cornerback Nolan Dahlk said. “Obviously that Sun Prairie game, we dealt with a lot of that. It was just all about bouncing back, coming out strong and I feel like we did that really well.”

Middleton senior quarterback Davis Roquet agreed.

They are a juggernaut.

A crushing force. A picture of both power and strength.

Middleton’s girls swimming team — the WIAA Division 1 defending state champions — appears to have another title team on their hands in 2017.

The Cardinals rolled over a solid Madison West team, 125-45, last Thursday. Middleton improved to 2-0 with the meat of its schedule coming in the weeks ahead.

“This meet was another great opportunity for us to swim against a good team and some fast swimmers,” Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka said. “We set the bar pretty high after our first dual meet and we stressed the importance of striving to stay there this week. 

“As a team, we talked about the little things we could focus on throughout the week and the girls did a great job of maintaining that focus.”

Middleton’s three relay teams all took first place.

Middleton’s cross country teams got off to a terrific start last Saturday at the Verona Invite.

Middleton’s boys finished second at the 20-team invite, while the girls were third among 19 teams.

In addition, Cardinals’ junior Caleb Easton won the boys race in 15 minutes, 59.05 seconds.

“Caleb ran a very smart race,” Middleton coach Brian Finnel said. “I was very pleased with his patience.

“He positioned himself in third and with a half mile to go he made a great move to the front. His closing speed is up there with some of the best guys in the state and I think he's poised to have a big cross country season.”

Middleton competed without senior Jack Rader — arguably its best runner — who is still recovering from an Achilles’ tendon tear. But the Cardinals showed how deep and talented they are.

If it’s possible for an all-state player to lurk in the shadows, then Derek Waleffe has certainly done that in recent seasons.

Waleffe, a senior soccer standout at Middleton High School, often was the sidekick to high-flying and current University of Wisconsin standout Bradan Allen. But it’s clear, Waleffe won't be taking a backseat to anybody in 2017.

Waleffe scored six goals in three games last weekend and powered Middleton to a 2-0-1 record at the Brookfield East Tournament.

After Middleton and Elkhorn played to a scoreless draw to open the tournament on Friday, Waleffe had a hat trick in an 8-0 win over Wauwatosa West on Saturday. Waleffe followed that with another hat trick in an 8-0 win over Brookfield East on Saturday.

Middleton’s boys volleyball team produced a bevy of sensational teams over the last 15 years.

The Cardinals have qualified for the WIAA state tournament four consecutive years and nine times since 2002. Middleton reached the state semifinals in both 2007 and ’08.

And the Cardinals have won 10 of the last 11 Big Eight Conference championships.

That’s a remarkable run that almost any program in the state would love to call its own.

Don't look now, but when Middleton begins its new season Tuesday at Beloit Memorial, it could field the best team in school history.

“I think based on experience and depth, this team has the chance to be one of the top teams we’ve had at Middleton,” Cardinals coach Ben White said. “We’ve had an unreal run over the last 11 years and this team could compete with some of the best.