September 2021

Fri
17
Sep
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Richardson named Coach of the Year

Alexa Richardson has been selected by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association as the recipient of the 2020-21 NFHS Coaches Association Cross Country Coach of the Year Award for Wisconsin.

Richardson led Middleton to the WIAA Division 1 alternate-fall state championship in May. It was the Cardinals’ first state title since 2006.

“Receiving the award means the world to me,” Richardson said. “I never expect to get awards as a coach. I try to stay behind the scenes and let the girls take the limelight. I'm excited to receive the award on behalf of the Middleton Athletic Department. The support of my Athletic Directors and assistant coaches mean everything to me. It makes me feel good to know I'm doing something good for the program.”

Fri
17
Sep
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Malloy-Salgado steals the show

Zaira Malloy-Salgado is one of the top cross country runners in the state.

The Middleton junior is often lost in the shadow of her standout teammate Lauren Pansegrau, though.

At last Thursday’s Hartland Arrowhead Invite, though, Pansegrau took the day off and Malloy-Salgado stole the show.

Malloy-Salgado won the star-studded meet that featured 139 total runners and many of the state’s best. Malloy-Salgado helped Middleton finish first at the 20-team event.

“We came away with many PRs and happy faces from Arrowhead,” Middleton coach Alexa Richardson said.

None happier than Malloy-Salgado’s, who finished the 5,000-meter race in 18 minutes, 9.40 seconds. That was more than 15 seconds faster than runner-up Lily Kriegel of Whitefish Bay.

“I had Lauren do a workout instead of racing,” Richardson said. “That gave Zaira a chance to claim the spotlight, winning the varsity race. Zaira was very patient, went out and executed her plan perfectly.”

Fri
17
Sep
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Boys XC team shines at Arrowhead

Middleton boys cross country coach Brian Finnel warned people.

Now, they’re finding out what Finnel knew all along — that this year’s Cardinals could be elite.

Middleton went to the 18-team Hartland Arrowhead Invite last Thursday — a meet featuring five of the state’s top-10 teams — and finished second.

Homestead won the tournament with 67 points, while Middleton was second at 108. Kenosha Indian Trail (150), Marquette (159) and Oconomowoc (205) rounded out the top five.

Middleton was largely overlooked at the start of the year and Finnel told people not to sleep on his team. Now, the Cardinals are rolling and have moved up to No. 4 in the latest state poll.

“I was stoked about our performance at Arrowhead,” Finnel said. “We got second and I think that was the best case scenario at this point. Homestead is just on another level and I know we are striving to be where they are.”

Middleton had a bevy of exceptional performances.

Fri
17
Sep
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Girls spikers shine at own invite

Junior setter Evin Jordee was one happy camper last Saturday at Middleton High School.

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Middleton hosted the Cardinal Invite, which included 15 prep girls volleyball teams.

“I’m happy to have it back,” said Jordee, one of the Cardinals’ three co-captains. “It’s a great day, just getting to play all day.

“It was super fun my freshman year. Now being an upperclassman, it’s fun to show the underclassmen what it’s like to host a tournament and have all of our fans here along with a lot of teams we know.”

Middleton lost in two sets to Verona, 25-17 and 25-15, in the semifinals of the Gold Bracket championship round to finish in a tie for third-place.

Junior outside hitter and co-captain Jordan LaScala, who also competed in this tournament as a freshman, enjoyed the atmosphere on and off the court.

Fri
17
Sep
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MHS golfers roll at own invite

Becky Halverson doesn’t shy away from competition.

When Middleton’s girls golf coach was putting together teams for the Cardinals Invitational last Saturday, she loaded the tournament with the best teams she could find.

The list included No. 2 Brookfield Central, which won the WIAA Division 1 state title last fall. Others such as Waunakee, Notre Dame and Oregon are all currently ranked in the top-10, or receiving votes.

Middleton welcomed them all to Pleasant View, then proved to be rude hosts.

The Cardinals — who won the spring state title and are currently ranked No. 1 in the latest Division 1 poll — shot a 311 and cruised to the tournament championship. Waunakee was second out of 19 teams with a 332, while Brookfield Central (334), Notre Dame (341) and Oregon (349) rounded out the top five.

Fri
17
Sep
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Boys soccer team keeps impressing

Middleton's boys soccer team has jumped to No. 8 in the WIAA Division 1 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association poll. And the Cardinals showed why last week.

Middleton went 2-1 against a stout schedule.

The Cardinals defeated Madison East, 3-1, last Thursday. Middleton then toppled DC Everest, 5-0, at the Baraboo Tournament last Friday.

The Cardinals then fell to Lakeville North (Ill.), 3-0, at the Baraboo Tournament last Saturday.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 3, Madison East 1 — Chris Vanden Boom had two goals and an assist as the Cardinals toppled the Purgolders.

“East has always played us tough and this was no different,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said. “They were very dangerous with some long balls in the middle of the field and I thought our back line did well to slow them up.

Fri
17
Sep
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MHS swimmers 3rd at Brookfield East Invite

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving team faced some of the best teams in the state last Saturday.

And the Cardinals more than held their own.

Middleton finished in third place at the star-studded, 13-team Brookfield East Invite.

The host Spartans were first with 347 points, while Madison Edgewood (341) and Middleton (335.5) rounded out the top three. Madison West was fourth at 291, followed by Brookfield Central (213) and Verona-Mount Horeb (210.5).

“Our team performed very well at the Brookfield Invite,” Middleton coach RJ Leiferman said. “We were able to show off our depth with every one of our girls finishing at least one of their races in a scoring place. It was a long meet, and we were very happy with the way our girls managed to remain focused and keep their energy up throughout the entire meet.”

Fri
17
Sep
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Girls tennis team 2nd at Nicolet Invite

Middleton’s girls tennis team finished in a tie for second place at the Nicolet “Sweet 16” Invite last Friday and Saturday.

The tournament featured 16 players in all seven flights and teams were awarded points accordingly. So, for example, a first place finisher in their flight earned 16 points, second place notched 15 points, etc.

Divine Savior Holy Angels won the tournament with 93 points, while Middleton and Whitefish Bay tied for second at 85. Eau Claire Memorial was fourth with 80 and Neenah was fifth with 78.

Here’s how the Cardinals fared:

• Sonya Agapov, No. 2 singles, first place (16 points) — Agapov had three comfortable wins to reach the finals. Then the Cardinals’ junior defeated Neenah’s Annalise Zenzick, 6-2, 3-6, 10-5, in the finals.

Agapov opened with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Oshkosh West’s Evan Giordano, then she bested Badger’s Tinker Trent, 6-4, 6-3. In the semifinals, Agapov toppled DSHA’s Grace Packee, 6-2, 6-1.

Wed
15
Sep
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School Board Reviews Start of Year

School Board Review Start of Year

MIDDLETON–The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Board of Education met for the first time since the start of the new school year and reviewed the successes and challenges while continuing to operate under COVID-19 safety protocols and staffing shortages.

Superintendent Dana Monogue said the year is off to a great start, but many students are needing more support, love, attention and guidance as they transition back to a structured schedule. 

“Our educators are being patient and kind while they help anxious students acclimate while they are also dealing with the realities of the ongoing pandemic,” Monogue said.

Sun
12
Sep
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PSC Approves New Well, Improvements in Cross Plains

CROSS PLAINS–Utility regulators last week approved construction of a new well and improvements to an existing one in Cross Plains at an estimated cost $3.303 million.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) estimated that water rates would need to increase by 67 percent, based on a number of assumptions. The village filed a rate increase earlier this summer that would increase average water bills by $12 a month or, 40 percent, during the next two years. That request remains pending with the PSC.

The village currently has two wells but needs a third as there wouldn’t be enough water if one well became inoperable, according to a 2021 Department of Natural Resources report. Water demand is also expected to increase as three new residential subdivisions are being planned in the village.

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