Sports

In 1991, a group of five freshman basketball players arrived at the University of Michigan.

The quintet — dubbed “The Fab Five” — was widely regarded as the greatest recruiting class in the history of college basketball. And it’s easy to see why, as those youngsters led Michigan to consecutive trips to the NCAA championship games.

Today, Middleton’s girls’ cross country team has a “Fab Five” of its own — and some talented upperclassmen, as well.

And on Sept. 29, Middleton’s gifted youngsters helped the Cardinals race to a second place finish at the Stoughton Invitational.

Madison West won the team title with 45 points, while Middleton was second at 96. Waunakee (98), Monona Grove (101) and Stoughton (134) rounded out the top five.

The most successful girls swimming and diving coach in the history of Middleton High School recently received one of the highest possible honors in her sport.

Lauren Cabalka, who has led Middleton to back-to-back WIAA Division 1 state championships, was selected by the Wisconsin Swimming and Diving Coaches Association as the recipient of the 2017-18 NFHS Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award for Wisconsin.

Annually, the NFHS identifies and recognizes a coach from each state for significant achievement in their sport. State level recipients are considered for NFHS Sectional recognition. National Coaches of the Year are then chosen from the sectional winners.

Award recipients are selected based upon a variety of criteria including their coaching record, background, coaching honors, and involvement in community and school organizations.

The Middleton and Mount Horeb boys soccer teams have each fared similarly in the 2018 season.

Both teams have less than stellar records, but the squads have played better than their records indicate and have played better soccer of late. 

The two teams squared off on Sept. 22 at Brietenbach Stadium in Middleton, and the Middleton held off Mount Horeb, 2-1, to capture a non-conference victory.

The Cardinals improved to 4-6-2 for the season, and sits in seventh place at 1-2-1 in the Big Eight. Mount Horeb fell to 2-9-0 and has a 2-1-0 record in the Badger North, good for third.

“Today was a good step forward for us,” said Middleton head coach Ben Kollasch. “We keep developing and taking steps forward each game. We’ve been trying to put together a full 90 minutes, and today was about there.”

The softest part of Middleton’s schedule is over.

Now, the Cardinals face a Murderer’s Row to finish the season. And how Middleton fares in the final three games will go a long ways in determining whether its year is a smashing success or a disappointment.

The Cardinals rolled past host Janesville Parker, 46-0, on Sept. 21. Middleton improved to 4-2 overall and in the Big Eight Conference and sits in a tie for fourth place.

Madison Memorial, Sun Prairie and Janesville Craig are tied for the league lead at 5-1. Middleton and Verona are tied for fourth at 4-2.

Middleton has won two straight games, defeating Beloit Memorial (1-5) and Parker (0-6). But things are about to get much tougher, as the Cardinals host Janesville Craig Friday at 7 p.m., host Sun Prairie on Oct. 5 and travel to Madison La Follette (3-3) on Oct. 12.

Those three teams are a combined 15-5 (.750).

MILWAUKEE — Eight seniors had graduated from the winningest boys’ volleyball team in Middleton history.

Sure, the newcomers were talented. But Cardinals senior outside hitter Eagan Peters-Michaud figured a dropoff this fall was only natural.

“When the eight seniors left, we were kind of wondering how this would go,” Peters-Michaud said. “I kind of had more negative thoughts.”

Not anymore.

Middleton has been one of the state’s greatest surprises. And the Cardinals notched one of their biggest wins of the Ben White-era on Sept. 18.

Middleton went into Milwaukee Marquette High School — home of the defending state champions and a school that has won nine state titles since 2002 — and took it to the host Hilltoppers. Middleton overcame a rough second set and toppled Marquette, 25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21.

Middleton also posted wins at the JV and freshman levels in what was a memorable night for the program.

Their first goal is in the rearview mirror.

Now, many other aspirations certainly seem achievable.

Middleton’s girls’ golf team won the Big Eight Conference regular season title on Sept. 12, rolling over the competition at the Beloit Memorial Quadrangular and wrapping up a perfect 9-0 league record. The Cardinals shot a 338 to easily outdistance runner-up Madison West (361). Janesville Craig was third at 378 and Beloit didn’t field a full team.

Middleton has now won the Big Eight all six years that Becky Halverson has been its coach. The Cardinals are a remarkable 53-0-1 in that time.

“With such a young team this year it means a lot to win regular season conference,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “I’m so proud of these girls and all of their accomplishments already.”

Cardinals junior Kate Meier continued her terrific season by firing a team-low 80. Ellie Frisch notched an 85, Glenna Sanderson carded an 86 and Milanne Dahman shot an 87.

All three units were clicking.

Every part of Middleton’s football did its job.

And the Cardinals routed Beloit Memorial, 42-6, on Sept. 15. Middleton improved to 3-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Eight Conference, while the Purple Knights fell to 1-4, 1-4.

“I was really pleased with the game we put together,” Middleton co-coach Tim Simon said. “We put the emphasis on us and worried about us.”

The Cardinals got touchdowns from all three units.

Senior wideout Sam Close had a 60-yard punt return for a score. Senior quarterback Bryce Carey had touchdown runs of 67 and 10 yards. And Middleton scored twice on defense in a game that had running clock nearly the entire fourth quarter.

“This was not a walk away,” Simon said. “But I told the kids afterwards that this is how I thought and hoped the game would work out.

“Beloit is drastically better than they were two or three years ago. But I thought we played pretty well.”

Middleton’s boys’ volleyball team jumped to No. 3 in the state rankings last week.

Then, the Cardinals went out and proved the voters know what they’re talking about.

Middleton won the eight-team Wauwatosa East Invite on Sept. 15, rolling past Waukesha West, 25-19, 25-19, in the finals.

The Cardinals opened with a 25-21, 26-24 win over Nicolet in a match that began at 9 a.m. Middleton trailed in the first set, 19-17, before finishing on an 8-2 run thanks to terrific serving and defense by Dylan Griffith. The second set was a battle, but Middleton used its size to its advantage and had some big blocks in the middle by Owen Engling to shut Nicolet down.

“Our play has followed our pattern throughout the season,” Middleton coach Ben White said. “Start a little slow and peak by the end.

Middleton’s girls swimming team has hit the halfway point of its regular season.

Really, though, the Cardinals have already done the majority of their heavy lifting.

Middleton’s schedule was front loaded and it came through with flying colors.

The Cardinals — who have won two straight WIAA Division 1 state championships and are heavy favorites to win a third — showed southeastern Wisconsin who’s boss on Sept. 15.

Middleton won the Waukesha South Invite with 367 points to easily outdistance runner-up Madison West (222.5). Waukesha South/Mukwonago (220), Cedarburg (204) and Arrowhead (197) rounded out the top five.

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team has set a goal of winning all of its meets this season.

That immense challenge grew even tougher last weekend when the Cardinals had three of their top swimmers on college recruiting trips.

But Middleton — the two-time WIAA Division 1 state champion — did what it’s done for years. It just kept on winning.

First, the Cardinals downed Madison Memorial, 106-64, in a Big Eight Conference dual meet on Sept. 7. Middleton then won the star-studded Brookfield East Invitational on Sept. 8.

“I was proud of the way we came together for the good of each other and were able to show that we are a team of deep talent who can beat some pretty incredible teams regardless of what our lineup looks like,” Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka said.