Sports

It was another sensational year for the sports teams at Middleton High School, where the Cardinals remained a model of consistency both in the Big Eight Conference and across the state.

Of course, some achievements rank as the best of the best. Here’s one person’s opinion of that list.

Last week we handed out the boys’ awards. This week we recognize the top girls.

Team of the year: Swimming

Middleton’s run of greatness continues to grow.

The Cardinals won their third consecutive WIAA Division 1 state swimming and diving championship last November.

Middleton finished with 249.50 points – 61.5 points ahead of second-place Cedarburg with 188. Sun Prairie finished third with 170 points and Verona /Mount Horeb took fourth with 169 points.

It was another sensational year for the sports teams at Middleton High School, where the Cardinals remained a model of consistency both in the Big Eight Conference and across the state.

Of course, some achievements rank as the best of the best. Here’s one person’s opinion of that list.

We will hand out boys’ awards this week, and girls’ awards next week.

Team of the year: Golf

One year after a disappointing sixth place finish at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament, Middleton notched a second-place finish. That meant the Cardinals received a large runner-up trophy and a fire truck escort through Middleton.

Mighty Milwaukee Marquette won its third state title in four years after setting a new state record with a two-day total of 594. Middleton was second at 614, while Lake Geneva Badger (623), Kaukauna (624) and Wauwatosa East/West (627) rounded out the top five.

Location.

Teammates.

Academics.

And a belief in what is the coaching staff is building.

Middleton girls’ basketball standout Sitori Tanin viewed all of the above as extreme positives when she chose Loyola University in Chicago as her future home. The 6-foot-2 Tanin, a senior-to-be at MHS, announced her decision last week.

“The girls on the team, the coaching staff, the campus, the athletic facilities and the location,” Tanin said when asked what drew her to Loyola. “And since I was looking for a higher academic school, Loyola was a great fit.”

Tanin helped the Cardinals reach the WIAA Division 1 state championship game in March, where they fell to Bay Port, 50-49.

Tanin also received first-team all-Big Eight Conference honors after leading the Cardinals in scoring (13.2), rebounding (11.0), steals (2.2) and blocks (1.1), and finishing second in assists (2.0).

Tom Cabalka couldn't stop gushing.

Middleton’s boys golf coach was recently discussing how Kip Sullivan, Jacob Beckman and Carson Frisch were named first-team all-Big Eight Conference, and Tommy Kriewaldt received second-team honors.

The foursome was also recognized by the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Association. Sullivan was named second-team all-state, Beckman received third-team honors and both Kriewaldt and Frisch were named honorable-mention all-state.

And Cabalka simply couldn't find enough plaudits to throw in the direction of his four golfing standouts.

“I'm finding it hard to say enough good things about these guys,” Cabalka said. “They are all great young men, and such an enjoyable group to work with. 

Middleton’s baseball team had four players earn all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Senior pitcher Matt Ballweg and junior outfielder Ben Collier were named second-team all-conference. Senior outfielder Cooper Holewinski and junior infielder Adam Casali received honorable-mention all-conference honors.

In 42 innings pitched, Ballweg struck out 40 batters, walked 17 and had a 2.33 ERA. Ballweg allowed just 30 hits in conference games and had a WHIP (walks + hits/innings pitched) of 1.119.

“He was a tremendous pitcher for us who kept us in nearly every game he pitched,” Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen said of Ballweg. “Matt had a great pickoff move to complement his ability to locate all three of his pitches for strikes. His demeanor, pitching abilities, and work ethic were the three things that really set him apart this year.”

Middleton’s girls’ softball team had four players earn all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Sophomore catcher Olivia Hebert and sophomore centerfielder CC Hiorns were named first-team all-league. Senior third baseman Ashley Bindl and senior pitcher Brynn Thayer were both named honorable-mention all-conference.

Hebert led the Cardinals in RBIs (34) and doubles (10). Hebert was also second among Middleton’s starters in batting average (.359), slugging percentage (.522) and steals (11), and was fourth in runs scored (18).

In 96 plate appearances, Hebert struck out just six times. She threw out three runners trying to steal and had a fielding percentage of .965 on 143 total chances.

Middleton’s girls’ soccer team enjoyed a terrific year in which the Cardinals went 10-4-4 and reached a WIAA Division 1 sectional final.

Not surprisingly, the Cardinals had several players earn all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Junior midfielder Tyler Wilson and senior defender Emily Raisleger were named first-team all-conference.

Senior forward McKenzie Zocher, sophomore forward Victoria Bunz, senior midfielder Danielle Martin and senior defender Caitlynn Owens were named second-team all-league.

And senior forward Hailey Kowalski, senior defender Lauren Hendricks and junior keeper Emelie Gehrke received honorable-mention all-conference honors.
Wilson led Middleton with 15 goals and added five assists. Wilson was also voted the Cardinals’ ‘Most Valuable Attacker’ by her teammates.

Four weeks ago, Middleton’s girls softball team had its season end after a loss at Onalaska in the regional finals.

Cardinals manager Perry Hibner — as enthusiastic, passionate and detailed of a coach as you’ll find — immediately turned the page to what could be a big 2020 season. Unfortunately for Hibner, he won’t be along for the ride.

Hibner also serves as the Director of Communications for the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. And on June 13, Hibner’s bosses asked him to step down as the girls’ softball coach to spend more time helping with several projects and personnel changes in the district.

Hibner, the Cardinals’ skipper the last four seasons, was certainly caught off guard.

MADISON — Ian Connell walked about 100 feet, or so, through the bowels of Nielsen Tennis Stadium late last Friday night.

When Connell got to the end of the hallway, his entire Middleton tennis team was waiting to shower the Cardinals’ freshman with love.

Hugs. High fives. Yelling. Screaming.

The group produced all of the above.

“That was just amazing,” Connell said. “Best thing I ever felt.”

And certainly deserved.

Connell took part in arguably the most grueling, exhausting, intense match seen at the WIAA Division 1 boys state team tennis tournament in several years. And when it ended after nearly three hours, Connell’s 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (8) win over Arrowhead junior Cole Contardi lifted the Cardinals past the Warhwaks, 4-3, in a state quarterfinal match.

WALES — Taylor Rough and Anna Mintz stood at midfield, hugging each other and refusing to let go.

Hailey Kowalski lifted her shirt over her face, almost to hide the tears.

And McKenzie Zocher — a gritty, gutty senior who’s torn both ACL’s during her standout prep career — battled through tears to deliver the final message of Middleton’s 2019 girls soccer season.

“We were a family, like as family as family can get,” Zocher said. “And like for me, this was my best season playing soccer ever. I’ve had multiple injuries and this is my first year not getting an injury. And I told this team after the game that this was the best season I’ve ever had.”

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it came to an end last Saturday night.

Middleton allowed its second-most goals of the year, narrowly missed on several second half scoring opportunities, and fell to Waunakee, 3-2, in a WIAA Division 1 sectional final played at Kettle Moraine High School.