Sports

The task was daunting.

The Times-Tribune recently asked a 16-person panel to rank the best male and female athletes to pass through Middleton High School in the 21st century. Any athlete who competed in the 21st century was eligible to be nominated and their exploits across their entire career were considered, even if a portion of their playing days came in the 1990s.

The panel consisted of past and present coaches, local sportswriters and community members who have seen countless Cardinals’ events.

There were no set criteria outlined. Beauty was in the eye of each beholder.

If one voter thought a multi-sport athlete with solid production across the board rated ahead of a one-sport athlete who excelled at their craft, that was their prerogative. If another voter prioritized team success, that was fine, too.

Nearly 60 boys and 60 girls were nominated for consideration, and after the votes were tabulated, each field was trimmed to a top-20.

Middleton girls golf coach Becky Halverson led the Cardinals to a WIAA Division 1 state championship in 2019.

Halverson and the Cardinals won’t get the chance to defend that title, though, in 2020.

Middleton boys cross country coach Brian Finnel led his group to a state title in 2019. That was the Cardinals’ second title in three years.

But Finnel’s group won’t have the opportunity for three state championships in four years.

The WIAA Board of Control voted 8-3 on July 23 to attempt to have a fall sports season, although the start dates were delayed due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three days earlier, the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District voted to begin the school year with all-virtual learning. The district also determined that sports will not be permitted without in-person schooling.

The task was daunting.

The Times-Tribune recently asked a 16-person panel to rank the best male and female athletes to pass through Middleton High School in the 21st century. Any athlete who competed in the 21st century was eligible to be nominated and their exploits across their entire career were considered, even if a portion of their playing days came in the 1990s.

The panel consisted of past and present coaches, local sportswriters and community members that have seen countless Cardinals’ events.

There were no set criteria outlined. Beauty was in the eye of each beholder.

If one voter thought a multi-sport athlete with solid production across the board rated ahead of a one-sport athlete who excelled at their craft, that was their prerogative. If another voter prioritized team success, that was fine, too.

Nearly 60 boys and 60 girls were nominated for consideration, and after the votes were tabulated, each field was trimmed to a top-20. 

Fall sports at Middleton High School and inside the Big Eight Conference are on life support.

The Big Eight announced Tuesday that schools can’t hold conference competitions this fall, nor will it crown champions. That measure passed by a vote of 10-0.

Schools do have the option, though, of scheduling non-conference competitions in any fall sports, so long as they follow the guidance of the WIAA and local public health officials. Middleton athletic director Jamie Sims said Tuesday afternoon, though, that for the time being there MHS won’t schedule any non-conference events.

Sims said when Public Health Madison and Dane County moves to Phase 3 of its Forward Dane re-opening plan, Middleton will consider scheduling non-conference events.

Sports played in the fall include football, boys soccer, girls golf, girls tennis, girls swimming, boys and girls cross country and boys and girls volleyball.

The task was daunting.

The Times-Tribune recently asked a 16-person panel to rank the best male and female athletes to pass through Middleton High School in the 21st century. Any athlete who competed in the 21st century was eligible to be nominated and their exploits across their entire career were considered, even if a portion of their playing days came in the 1990s.

The panel consisted of past and present coaches, local sportswriters and community members that have seen countless Middleton events.

There were no set criteria outlined. Beauty was in the eye of each beholder.

If one voter thought a multi-sport athlete with solid production across the board rated ahead of a one-sport athlete who excelled at their craft, that was their prerogative. If another voter prioritized team success, that was fine, too.

Nearly 60 boys and 60 girls were nominated for consideration, and after the votes were tabulated, each field was trimmed to a top-20.

The hits keep coming. And the pads haven’t even gone on yet.

Football coaches inside the Big Eight Conference drafted a letter on July 12 proposing that all non-conference games be eliminated this season. They gave the letter to their athletic directors the following day, and when the league’s A.D.’s meet July 21, they’re expected to cancel the non-conference portion of the season.

That means Middleton’s game at Bay Port on Aug. 20 would not take place. Waunakee — the Cardinals’ opponent on Aug. 28 — approved a plan earlier this week to eliminate all non-conference football games, so that game has already been canceled.

“I just think it’s the smart thing to do,” Middleton coach Jason Pertzborn said. “The best-case scenario is we’ll get back into the building at the start of August. That’s not enough time to get ready.”

The task was daunting.

The Times-Tribune recently asked a 16-person panel to rank the best male and female athletes to pass through Middleton High School in the 21st century. Any athlete who competed in the 21st century was eligible to be nominated and their exploits across their entire career were considered, even if a portion of their playing days came in the 1990s.

The panel consisted of past and present coaches, local sportswriters and community members that have seen countless Cardinals’ events.

There were no set criteria outlined. Beauty was in the eye of each beholder.

If one voter thought a multi-sport athlete with solid production across the board rated ahead of a one-sport athlete who excelled at their craft, that was their prerogative. If another voter prioritized team success, that was fine, too.

Nearly 60 boys and 60 girls were nominated for consideration, and after the votes were tabulated, each field was trimmed to a top-20.

Brandon Hellenbrand, who manages Middleton’s Home Talent League team, had a hunch this was coming.

The same goes for Sauk Prairie skipper Lucas Koenig.

As cases from the COVID-19 pandemic have risen in recent weeks, the challenges mounted for HTL teams to play their season. On June 26, the league’s executive board voted to call off the season, which was supposed to begin this weekend.

While teams across the league were disappointed, no one was arguing with the decision.

“I do agree with the Board's decision to cancel the 2020 season,” Hellenbrand said. “Over the last week or so, watching the number of cases grow and hearing from other teams that have played exhibition games and the difficulty they've had with following the guidelines, I don't think there was any way this season could have been played safely.”

Koenig, who sits on the HTL’s Board, felt the same way.

Passion.

Knowledge.

Enthusiasm.

Matt Given has them all. And Middleton’s new girls tennis coach hopes those qualities lead to big things on the court this fall.

Given replaces Terry Geurkink, who lasted just one year.

“The Middleton girls tennis program has so much history and success over the years,” Given said. “I know the potential that the girls program has and I am very excited to be a part of it. The tennis community here really supports the program and that is something that really drew me to this job.”

Given, a Math teacher at Middleton High School, was born and raised in Mesa, Az. He attended Arizona State University and has coached the last 12 years.

Given takes over a program packed with potential, but also one that has lacked consistency at the top.

Middleton is hoping that changes with Given.

Ben White knew this day was quickly approaching.

The one where he’d have to pass the reigns of Middleton’s boys volleyball program onto somebody else. The day where he turned over one of the most successful sports in the school to another leader.

For White, that day came on June 12 — and understandably, it came with mixed emotions.

White was named Middleton’s new assistant athletic director. Due to the demands of his new job, White had to step down as the boys’ volleyball coach after a remarkably successful 19-year run.

“Middleton volleyball is something that has been part of my life for 28 years — and I'm not that old,” said White, who was also a player and an assistant coach for the Cardinals before becoming the head man in 2001. “It will always hold a special place in my heart. I am hopeful that in my new role I can help the new coach with any questions they may have and help provide any guidance they may need.”