Sports

The 90-minute sectional final was largely filled with frustration and disappointment.

The other two months of their 2015 campaign was a downright joyride.

Middleton’s girls soccer team fell one step short of the state tournament, dropping a 4-1 decision to visiting Kettle Moraine in a WIAA Division 1 sectional final Saturday.

But the Cardinals certainly didn’t leave Firefighter’s Park with their heads hung low. Instead, Middleton left filled with pride about a year that was packed with success and surprises.

“Our expectation is always state and I thought this could be our year,” Middleton senior midfielder Megan Sullivan said. “But this was a great season for us. I don’t think there were many people that thought we’d do as good as we did.”

That’s for sure.

The Cardinals graduated 10 seniors from their 2014 team, but never missed a beat.

Verona — The disappointment should increase their drive.

The frustration figures to be an enormous motivator.

Middleton’s boys golf team will now try turning a negative into a positive.

The Cardinals finished in fifth place at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament held at University Ridge Monday and Tuesday. Middleton, which finished in fourth place a year ago, had much greater aspirations in 2015.

Instead, the Cardinals couldn’t find a branch of consistency to grab onto.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” said Cardinals junior Brady Thomas. “We had very high hopes, just like last year. But we just kind of laid a dud.”

Hartland Arrowhead won its sixth state team title in nine years, posting a 623. Green Bay Notre Dame was a close second at 624, while Bay Port (637), Badger (641) and Middleton (642) rounded out the top five.

When it was over, they were completely exhausted.

The blazing sun, the terrific opponent and the pressure of their season coming to an end had left Middleton’s girls soccer team dog-tired. But the Cardinals were also extremely happy.

Middleton edged Verona, 3-2, in double overtime in a thrilling WIAA Division 1 regional final last Saturday. The top-seeded Cardinals advanced to a sectional final Thursday at 7 p.m., where they’ll host third-seeded Madison West at Firefighter’s Park.

“At the end of the game, I told the girls that it took every ounce of every person today to achieve that win and send our seniors to a happy graduation ceremony on Sunday,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said. 

The teams were tied, 2-2, headed to overtime.

It took great will power and resolve.

But Tara Franklin refused to crunch the numbers and try guessing where her Middleton’s girls track and field team might finish at the WIAA Division 1 state meet last weekend.

“I just didn’t want to get caught up in all the numbers,” Franklin said. “I wanted to enjoy the moment.”

Finally, with three events left, Franklin relented.

Franklin knew it had been a brilliant two days for her Cardinals. But even she was surprised to discover Middleton was on the brink of a remarkable second place finish.

When Middleton’s 1,600-meter relay team then finished third, the Cardinals had achieved greatness — and locked up a second place finish.

Whitefish Bay won the title with 48 points, while Middleton was second with 39 points. Kenosha Bradford and Monona Grove tied for third with 36 points, while Waukesha West was fifth (31).

The concept seems somewhat odd.

But when examined closer, it’s completely understandable.

Middleton’s boys track and field team finished fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet held at UW-La Crosse last weekend. That finish is believed to be the best in school history.

Afterwards, though, the Cardinals were somewhat disappointed.

Why? Simple. These Cardinals fully believed an even higher finish was possible.

Bay Port won the title with 67 points, while Wisconsin Lutheran was second at 48. Madison West (36), Middleton (26) and Pewaukee (23) rounded out the top five.

“It was interesting to finish so well historically and feel so let down,” Middleton coach Isaac Mezera said. “We were chosen by many to finish in second or third place. Some even went so far to predict us winning the meet. 

Verona — Middleton’s boys golf team experienced a case of déjà vu at University Ridge on Monday.

And it was the kind of experience the Cardinals could have lived without.

Middleton shot an opening round 320 at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament and sits in third place overall, 14 shots behind first-place Arrowhead.

One year ago, the Cardinals shot a first round 321 and were 13 shots off the lead. Middleton rallied on the second day, tied for the tournament’s lowest score, but finished in fourth place.

Now, Middleton — which had title aspirations when this tournament began — hopes its first-day struggles won’t doom its championship dreams.

“Well, we dug a hole and we’ve got to dig ourselves out,” Cardinals coach Tom Cabalka said. “But the good thing is we know we can do it.

“These kids all know they have a lot better game than they showed today. We just have to come out and play a lot better tomorrow.”

Middleton’s boys tennis program has a long and storied tradition of excellence.

The Cardinals send multiple players to the individual state tournament most years. Middleton has been to the state team tournament nine times since 2000.

But one thing the Cardinals have never produced was an individual state champion.

Until Saturday, that is.

Cardinals sophomore Jake Van Emburgh made history by rolling past Brookfield East’s David Horneffer, 7-5, 6-1, to claim the WIAA Division 1 state champion.

Van Emburgh became the first player in school history to win a state title. And with his family set to move to Florida in July, it was a memorable ending for Van Emburgh.

“I’m glad I could end like that,” Van Emburgh said. “It’s kind of bittersweet, but it’s something I definitely wanted to accomplish.”

Van Emburgh accomplished it with surprising ease.

Joey Levin looked around and saw everyone on their cell phones. Constantly.

No one would tell Levin what was happening. So naturally, Middleton’s standout golfer assumed the worst.

“I had a bad feeling for the majority of the back nine,” Levin said. “I could tell things were tight, but I had no clue because no one would tell me what was going on.”

Here’s what.

Levin and the Cardinals were on the ropes at the WIAA Division 1 Reedsburg Sectional Tuesday afternoon. And with three holes to play, Middleton trailed Waunakee by two shots for the final berth to the state team tournament.

But the Cardinals closed with a bang, outscored the Warriors by four shots in the final three holes, and earned a trip back to the state tournament Monday and Tuesday at University Ridge Golf Course.

Madison Memorial shot a season-low 304 and won the sectional. Middleton was second at 308 and the Warriors were a close third at 310.

For the majority of his formative years, Perrin Hagge lived roughly four hours north of Middleton in the small town of Lakeland, Wis.

It was there — in the great north — that Hagge developed a love for running. It was also there where Hagge found his first true rival.

“I had a neighbor who I competed a lot with,” Hagge said. “He was one of the fastest people I knew.”

It would be interesting what that neighbor would say about Hagge. Because to the rest of the state, Hagge has quickly become a poster boy for speed.

Hagge, a junior at Middleton, had an unforgettable performance at last Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 Holmen Sectional.

Hagge won the 800-meter run in 1:53.63 and also captured the 1,600 in 4:12.60. Hagge is now the No. 1 seed in both races at this weekend’s state meet at UW-La Crosse.

The memories will be etched in stone for the rest of Bobbi Patrick’s life.

A pair of top-four finishes in relay events in 2013.

Runner-up finishes in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays in 2014.

And several sensational individual performances along the way.

Yes, Patrick — a Middleton High School senior — has left her mark at the WIAA Division 1 girls state track and field meet.

Now, Patrick hopes her swan song is the best yet.

Patrick and 13 of her Middleton teammates will head to the WIAA Division 1 state meet at UW-La Crosse this weekend with extremely high hopes.

Patrick is part of Middleton’s second-seeded 1,600-meter relay team and fourth-seeded 3,200-meter relay team. Patrick is also seeded eighth in the 800-meter run and hopes to go out with a bang.