October 2021

SUN PRAIRIE  — Middleton’s boys soccer team left it all on the pitch in its bid to win a WIAA Division 1 regional title on Ashley Field at the Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium last Saturday afternoon.

But an early two-goal deficit proved to be too much to overcome as third-seeded Sun Prairie held on for a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Middleton on a beautiful sun-splashed fall afternoon.

“After they got two, I said we needed one by halftime,” Middleton coach Kevin Pauls said. “We got the one and that got us going. That got the wind back in our sails a little bit.

“We were the better team in the second half by far. We just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net. That’s the way soccer goes sometimes. You can be the best team and not get a win.”

DANE COUNTY–A Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured in Festge County Park, located on Scherbel Road between Cross Plains and Black Earth, Thursday night when she responded to a call of a suspicious person in the park. 

In a social media post, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) said the suspect allegedly attacked the deputy with an “edged weapon.” She responded by firing her weapon during the altercation. The man then fled on foot. 

She was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital and released.

The sheriff’s office urged area residents to stay inside with their doors and windows locked on Thursday night during the incident.

Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene last night, and the sheriff’s department tweeted they were in the Town of Berry searching for the suspect at 10:40 p.m.

Jason Pertzborn did the math and crunched the numbers.

And when things played out exactly like Pertzborn anticipated, Middleton’s football coach was one happy camper last Friday night.

The Cardinals received a No. 3 seed in their WIAA Division 1 playoff pod and will host Madison Memorial in a Level 1 game Friday at 7 p.m. It was the first season a computerized format determined the seeds instead of coaches, and Pertzborn was awfully happy with the results.

“That’s where I figured we would be all along,” Pertzborn said. “From my lens, there’s no surprises, so I’m happy about that. Now, we’ve just got to take care of our business.”

Sun Prairie (9-0) is the No. 1 seed in the pod, followed by Wisconsin Rapids (6-3), Middleton (6-3), Fond du Lac (5-4), Verona (6-3), Madison Memorial (5-4), Oshkosh West (4-5) and Madison La Follette (3-6).

If the seeds hold, Middleton would travel to Wisconsin Rapids for a Level 2 game on Oct. 29.

SUN PRAIRIE — Lauren Pansegrau and Middleton’s girls cross country team successfully crossed off several items on their checklist last Saturday at the Big Eight Conference meet at Sheehan Park.

Pansegrau repeated as individual champion, and Middleton captured the team championship as the Cardinals placed five runners in the top seven to defend its conference title won in 2019.

No conference meet was held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Middleton finished with 19 points to easily outdistance runner-up Madison West, which finished with 59 points. Madison Memorial was third with 94 points in the eight-team race.

“It was something I was looking forward to,” Pansegrau said. “It’s crazy because it’s a lot of people’s last meet. So I’m real excited for how our team did. I know we’ve been working hard for this. I’m real proud of everyone.