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January 2014

Mon
27
Jan
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Rough week for hockey Cards

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Mon, 01/27/2014 - 00:00

 

Middleton’s hockey team had a rough week, losing all three of its games.

The Cardinals fell to Madison Edgewood, 2-1, last Thursday, in overtime.

Middleton lost to Milwaukee Marquette, 4-3, last Saturday and dropped a 4-2 decision to Fond du Lac on Sunday.

Middleton, which went through a coaching change on Jan. 17, fell to 7-9-2 on the season. Interim head coach Steffon Walby, whose record fell to 1-3-1, didn't return messages for this story.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ three games:

• Madison Edgewood 2, Middleton 1 (OT) — The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the third period when senior forward Jordan Carey scored on an assist from sophomore defender Davis Bunz.

But the Crusaders got the equalizer with just 1:04 left in regulation, then won it in the extra period.

Middleton goalie Zach Kasdorf had 28 saves. The Cardinals finished with just 17 shots on goal.

Thu
23
Jan

Week 4

Thu
23
Jan

Week 3

Wed
22
Jan
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Indomitable Molly Millar

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 11:12

As can so often happen with volunteering, a need arises and someone steps into the void. Then stays. For go-getter Molly Millar, a name once synonymous with Middleton Girl Scouting, make that “needs.” Millar, now 80, has spent her spare time during the previous half-century as a Scout leader, AFS host, and foster parent. To this day, she foster mothers children in emergency situations.

“There’s so many kids that don’t have anybody,” Millar stated. “I love talking to kids, and [foster] kids really need it. Another very good reason, I do boys mostly because I work well with them, I can put tools into their hands and do outdoor things with them that they don’t otherwise get.”

Indeed, Millar’s love of the outdoors is a common denominator in many of her lifelong pursuits. Instilled during her youth by her Scoutmaster father on their land in the country, Millar was allowed to tag along with the boys in his troop.

Tue
21
Jan
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Liberts forced to resign

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 22:42

 

This was not the way anyone figured it would end.

Not the conclusion that anybody saw coming. 

Tony Libert and his brother Steve, co-head coaches of Middleton’s hockey team for nearly 21 years, were forced to resign last week.

Tony Libert was at the center of a locker room incident during a game against Madison Memorial on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Steve Libert didn’t enter the locker room until the majority of Tony’s exploits had ended, but he also paid the price.

Both men were given the option to resign or be fired on Friday — and each chose to resign.

The Liberts leave behind a program they built from ground zero starting in 1993-’94. In the time since, Middleton has reached the WIAA state tournament three times, and become a model of consistency in both their play and professionalism.

Steffon Walby, a former player and coach in five different minor professional leagues, was named the interim coach.

Tue
21
Jan
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Walby named interim hockey coach

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 22:42

One of the last places Steffon Walby expected to be this winter was behind the bench of Middleton’s varsity hockey program.

But Walby hopes to calm down a chaotic situation and make the best of a rough time.

Walby was named the interim head coach of Middleton’s hockey team last week. Steve and Tony Libert, Middleton’s former co-coaches, were forced to resign following a locker room incident on Jan. 14.

“I think chaotic is a very good word for what’s been going on,” Walby said. “There’s a lot of emotions for the kids, for the parents, for the community up and down.

“We’re there to enforce the Middleton hockey community, which has always supported the high school team. Just help them continue to be the best they can be.”

Walby, 41, spent much of his youth playing hockey leagues in Middleton. He later attended Madison Edgewood, where he graduated in 1990.

Tue
21
Jan
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Former hockey players speak highly of Liberts

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 22:41

 

Word spread like wildfire.

That’s what happens inside programs that are as tightly knit as Middleton hockey is.

And as former players heard that Cardinals’ co-coaches Steve and Tony Libert were forced to resign last week, the overriding feeling was sadness.

“I honestly thought of them as coaches that always had the best intentions, not only in caring about us as hockey players, but as people, too,” said Skyler Rusch, a former Cardinals standout and 2008 MHS graduate. “Steve and Tony would take time off from work to coach the team and do things like host optional video sessions on Sunday’s, instead of spending time with family. 

“I would consider their dedication to the program to be extremely high, above and beyond what any other coaches had ever done for my teams.”

Eric Smith, a former standout goalie who helped Middleton reach the state championship game in 2011, agreed with Rusch.

Tue
21
Jan
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Girls basketball team now 10-0 in Big 8

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 13:54

Their starts certainly weren’t ideal.

Their finishes, though, more than made up for it.

Middleton’s girls basketball team struggled out of the gates twice last week. But the Cardinals rallied both times to stay undefeated in Big Eight Conference play.

Middleton surged past Madison Memorial, 55-51, last Thursday and defeated Beloit Memorial, 73-57, last Saturday.

“I was not pleased with our focus and intensity to start either game,” Middleton head coach Jeff Kind said. “Memorial and Beloit both played inspired and aggressively and gained confidence as they stayed with us.  

“We didn't shoot particularly well in either game and we have to be careful about just falling in love with the threes. We settle for a three too quickly sometimes and don't give the offense a chance to work. We are happy to have won the games and hopefully are learning from them, but we still have lots to work on.” 

Tue
21
Jan
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Boys basketball team nipped by Memorial

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 13:51

For a split second it looked like the Middleton boys’ basketball team had just the chance it was looking for.

Then, just like that, it was ripped away.

The Cardinals trailed by three points with under a minute remaining in their game against rival Madison Memorial when Demond Hill drove into the lane, scored and drew contact for a potential three-point play.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Hill was called for a charge and the basket was waived off. The Spartans went 4-for-4 from the free throw line the rest of the way and held on for a 55-50 Big Eight Conference victory over Middleton in front of a packed house last Friday at Madison Memorial.

“That was just excitement,” Hill said of the play. “My body just went crazy … count it and one. Could have tied the game and it was a different situation. Last second … that hurt. We played hard.”

Tue
21
Jan
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Gymnasts try gaining their balance

Submitted by MTT News Desk on Tue, 01/21/2014 - 13:46

One of these days, Middleton’s girls gymnastics team might get fully healthy.

And when they do, Cardinals head coach Kari Steck can’t wait to see what her team can do.

Middleton had another adventurous week, welcoming back standout Aryn Skibba from injury for the first time this year. The Cardinals then lost senior captain Gabby Aranda to a knee injury, while junior Lauren Ace sprained her thumb and was limited.

Despite the injuries, the Cardinals hung tough.

Middleton edged Janesville Craig, 130.650-130.375 in a Big Eight Conference dual meet last Thursday. The Cardinals then finished fourth at the four-team Madison East Invite last Saturday.

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