November 2023

Middleton’s hockey team has raced to a 2-0 start.

The Cardinals rolled past Madison Memorial, 4-1, on Nov. 21. Middleton then blanked Hartland Arrowhead, 1-0, last Saturday.

I was very pleased at how we played against both Memorial and Arrowhead,” Middleton coach Dan Truehl said. “We leaned heavily on our returners, and they put together six good periods of hockey. The defensemen played extremely well and limited most grade A opportunities. We still need to produce some more offense, but I’m confident that will come as these line combinations get more comfortable with each other.”

Four different Cardinals scored in Middleton’s win over Madison Memorial, while goalie Ian Eberle was terrific in net.

Gabe Passini gave Middleton a 1-0 lead at the 11 minute, 52-second mark of the second period. Ethan Glimme and Alexander Moreau assisted on the play.

This week marks the start of a special new series in the Times-Tribune, featuring the photography of renowned Middletonian Michael Knapstein. His images, captured primarily right here in your backyard, will serve as a regular reminder that beauty really is all around you. Knapstein is an international award-winning photographer who has lived in Middleton since 1985. His images have been exhibited across the United States as well as in 21 countries around the world. Visit www.knapsteinphotography.com to see more of his work.

Four starters from one of the most successful teams in school history have graduated.

Gavyn Hurley, the two-time Player of the Year in the Big Eight Conference and an all-state player last season, has taken his unique skill set to Winona State. And overall, 77% of the scoring and 70% of the rebounding from last year are gone.

Oh well.

While the losses inside Middleton’s boys basketball program are substantial, veteran coach Kevin Bavery is awfully excited about his returnees — and a trio of gifted transfers.

That group has Bavery believing the Cardinals — who went 25-2 last year and won the Big Eight Conference with a 19-1 mark — could be poised for another terrific season. Middleton begins its season Saturday by hosting DeForest at 4 p.m.

They hoisted a gold ball.

They won a state championship as a No. 3 seed.

And they brought a title back to Middleton for the first time in nearly two decades.

Middleton’s boys soccer team — which defeated Brookfield East for the state championship on Nov. 4 — then reaped the rewards by receiving several postseason honors.

Senior midfielder Cal Avery was named first-team all-Big Eight Conference and first-team all-state by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association. Junior forward Tony Murphy and junior defender Josh Lee were both named first-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-state.

Senior keeper Michael Fussell was named first-team all-Big Eight, while senior midfielder Carson Fitzgerald was named second-team all-conference. Senior midfielder Kai Muramoto, senior forward/midfielder Miles Benson, junior midfielder Quinn Davis and freshman defender Luke Weber were all named honorable-mention all-conference.