Middleton golfers third at state

VERONA — The sport of golf is arguably the greatest game on Earth.

It’s an art form and a strategic battle rolled into one.

There’s just one problem. You can’t play defense.

And Middleton’s tremendous boys team would have loved to play a little defense at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament, which returned to picturesque University Ridge after a six-year hiatus.

The Cardinals shot an impressive two-day team score of 609. In eight of the last 12 state tournaments held at U-Ridge, that would have been good enough for first or second place.

Not in 2025, though.

Marquette broke the state record with a 584, while Hudson carded a 603. Middleton settled for third place despite posting the third-lowest score in school history at a state meet.

“The game is so much better than it used to be,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “We played really well. Some other teams just went lower.”

Cardinals standout junior Sammy Forslund could rest easy knowing MHS played well, but some other teams simply played better.

“We didn’t lose,” Forslund said. “At the end of the day, we got beat.

“I feel like we did well as a team. Third place is good. Obviously you want to win, but you can’t always win.”

The Cardinals had several solid performances on their way to the 13th top-three finish in school history.

Junior Reis Von Ruden shot a 4-over-par, 148 over two days and tied for 11th out of 104 golfers. Forslund carded a second day 73, finished at 150 and tied for 14th overall.

Junior Luke Weiss carded a +9, 153 and tied for 21st. And junior Berrin Reiter had an opening round 76, finished at 158 and tied for 46th individually.

“We definitely had the mentality that we could win it,” Von Ruden said. “I think we definitely played pretty good. I mean third place isn’t awful. Marquette and some other teams just played great.”

Middleton had a solid 304 on Day 1, a number that would have had the Cardinals in contention for a state title in most years. But Marquette broke the state’s single-day record with a 4-under-par, 284 in which it made 24 birdies and an eagle.

With the Cardinals 20 shots back, they certainly didn’t abandon hopes of a state title. But they knew catching the mighty Hilltoppers would be a tall task.

“We kind of shifted the focus to let’s still fight for first, and in doing that you’re going to settle for second easier,” Forslund said. “So, if you’re going to aim high, you’re going to miss higher.”

The Cardinals certainly had nothing to hang their heads about after Round 1.

Von Ruden led the way with a 1-over, 73. Von Ruden made three birdies in his final six holes, four birdies overall and was tied for 12th place individually entering Day 2.

Reiter fired a 4-over, 76 that included birdies on his first two holes. Reiter added birdies on two of his last three holes and shot 38 on each side.

Forslund was 2-under early in his round and made four birdies overall. But he also had three double bogeys and settled for a 77.

“Three bad swings and I lost six or seven shots,” Forslund said.

And Weiss overcame a quadruple bogey on his first hole and finished with a 6-over-par, 78. Weiss eagled No. 2 and had three birdies during his opening round.

“There’s nothing wrong with shooting a 304,” Cabalka said. “Not one thing.”

With Marquette in control, the Cardinals took aim at second place and made an impressive effort to bring home some hardware. And with four holes to play, Middleton was just one shot back of Hudson for second place.

But the Raiders pulled away down the stretch and captured silver.

“I think we kept ourselves in it with Hudson,” Forslund said. “But they had a bit of a better stretch at the end.”

Still, the Cardinals had another solid round in which they finished with a 305.

Von Ruden made the turn at even-par, 36. And despite a triple bogey at No. 10, he finished with a 75.

Von Ruden finished the two day tournament playing the par-5s in 2-under-par. And he played the par-4s in 2-over-par.

“I wasn’t too mad with my performance today,” Von Ruden said after his final round Tuesday. “It was just that triple at 10 really got me. Otherwise, besides that it wasn’t an awful day. I’m fine with it.”

Forslund, who wasn’t thrilled with his opening round 77, rebounded with an impressive 73.

Forslund made birdies at No. 2 and 3 to get to 2-under early in his round. He slipped to as high as 3-over through 13, then finished with consecutive birdies to turn in a splendid 73.

“A 73’s not bad. I just didn’t get any putts to fall,” Forslund said. “If I got a couple putts to fall, it’s a 69 or 70. So, not bad. Our team showed out today. We did pretty well.”

Weiss had birdies at No. 13 and 17 on his way to an extremely solid 75. And over the two days, Weiss was even on the par-3 holes, the third-best score in the tournament.

And while Reiter slipped a bit during his second round, his first appearance at state was a solid one overall.

“This group has been such a pleasure to be around,” Cabalka said. “They’ve just been so special, really, so special.

“They’re the best. The very best group. They’re so close. They’re best friends. They challenge each other. They support each other. Not a bad day all year long. Really, not one bad day all year long.”

As good as 2025 was, 2026 could be even better.

Middleton didn’t have a senior in its lineup.

Meanwhile, five of Marquette’s top six players were seniors. And while the Hilltoppers traditionally reload, they’ll graduate more talent than any team in the state.

Hudson had three seniors among its top five. And Oconomowoc, which tied for fourth place, had five seniors in its lineup.

So while Middleton was disappointed not to finish in the top two this year, the Cardinals know they’ll be among the favorites to bring home a gold ball next June.

“We don’t lose a single person,” Von Ruden said. “We’ll have five seniors and I think we’ll be really good next year. I think we’ll be ready for a win.

“This year was fun. But I think it could be even more fun next year.”

Forslund was in complete agreement with Von Ruden.

“The team’s going to improve,” he said. “I think we’ll be back here next year even better and hoping to contend even more.

“We’re not losing anybody. We’re going to come back stronger. All of us are going to be better. We’re a good group of guys. I think if we can tidy up some things I think we can really compete next year and hopefully win it.”

WIAA Division 1 state team tournament

June 9-10

At University Ridge

Team scores:

1. Marquette — 284-300-584

2. Hudson — 300-303-603

3. Middleton — 304-305-609

4. Oconomowoc - 304-313-617

4. Edgerton — 314-303-617

6. DeForest — 314-305-619

7. Homestead — 317-305-622

8. De Pere — 311-312-623

9. Wausau East — 314-320-634

10. Germantown - 311-328-639

11.Bay Port — 322-318-640

12. Sheb. North —321-324-645

13. Mad. West — 323-323- 646

14. Milton — 334-319-653

15. Oak Creek — 331-325-656

16.Wauk. West — 345-346-691

Top 20 finishers

T1. Peyton Albers, Waunakee, 71-69-140; T1. Drake Card, Hudson, 68-72-140; 3. Kade Wieland, Milton, 7369-142; 4. Owen Kuepper, Hartford, 71-72-143; T5. Lincoln Hottmann, DeForest, 74-71-145; T5. Sam Swavely, Hudson, 74-71-145; T5. Creede Neuberger, Marquette, 71-74-145; T5. Hayes Packee, Marquette, 70-75-145; 9. Alex Kim, Marquette, 71-75-146; 10. Russell Harder, Wausau West, 72-75-147.

T11. Reis Von Ruden, Middleton, 73-75-148; T11. Thomas Haverty, Marquette, 72-76-148; T11. Jack Lamm, Hamilton, 72-76-148; T14. A.J. Anderson, Waukesha North, 78-72-150; T14. Sammy Forslund, Middleton, 77-73-150; T14. Caleb Kern, Edgerton, 72-78-150; T17. Kaden Zinkle, DeForest, 75-76-151; T17. Brady Hayward, Pulaski, 75-76-151; T17. Ted Schlindwein, Wausau East, 74-77-151; 20. Vance Reiland, Homestead, 74- 78-152.

Middleton scores

T11. Reis Von Ruden, Middleton, 73-75-148; T14. Sammy Forslund, Middleton, 77-73-150; T21. Luke Weiss 78-75-153; T46. Berrin Reiter 76-82-158; T92. Aaron Gepner/Luke Zhang 91-83 — 174.