Sports

It’s been said first impressions are the most lasting.

If that holds true for Middleton’s girls swimming team, it could be a big year for the Cardinals.

Middleton won 10 of 12 events and cruised past Madison Memorial, 137-49, last Friday in its 2023 season opener.

“Our team had a very strong start to the season vs. Memorial,” Middleton coach R.J. Leiferman said. “We have a lot to feel good about as we go into the next few weeks.”

Middleton swept all three relays.

The quartet of Lily Mair, Rian Jost, Isabell Frommelt and Sulia Miller finished first in the 200-yard medley relay, while the foursome of Irene Lee, Hannah Machleidt, Brynn Sundell and Anna Dart was second.

Middleton’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Miller, Tait Haag, Audrey Alexander and Piper Garcia Hall was first, while Jost, Clara Kiehl, Dart and Frommelt were second.

SUAMICO — Visions of Bay Port Stadium have given Bryce Falk nightmares the last two years.

Falk, Middleton’s standout senior running back and the Big Eight Conference’s reigning ‘Back of the Year’, had brilliant seasons with the Cardinals in 2021 and 2022. But Falk was still bothered by his varsity debut at Bay Port, when he fumbled a late kickoff that led to a Pirates’ touchdown and an eventual win.

“It didn’t end well for me sophomore year when I was here,” Falk said. “I took it a bit personal.”

He sure did.

And on Aug. 17, Bay Port paid the price.

In the 1980s, the Washington Redskins powerful offensive line was given the nickname ‘The Hogs.’

A decade earlier, Buffalo’s sensational offensive line earned the nickname ‘The Electric Compa-ny’ for its ability to turn on the juice.

Middleton’s offensive line doesn’t have a nickname right now. Don’t be surprised if that changes, though, by the end of the 2023 campaign.

On a roster packed with stars, Middleton’s line could eventually shine the brightest. And as the Cardinals try making their first trip to the state finals at Camp Randall Stadium since 1987, it could be the offensive line that paves the way.

“Every line has its own stamp on my heart,” said Middleton co-interim head coach Joe Poehls, who also coaches the offensive line. “But this one could be really special.”

Indeed.

Middleton senior tackle Hudson Cleary believes the Cardinals could have one of the better offenses in the state this fall.

Star running back Bryce Falk feels the same.

Two weeks into practice, though, Middleton’s offense was having its trouble. And there was one reason why.

“Our defense has been pretty dominant,” Cleary said. “They look great.”

Falk felt the same.

“The defense is looking really good,” said Falk, the Big Eight Conference’s Running Back of the Year in 2022. “It’s tough to compete against our defense.”

Middleton’s early offensive struggles have far less to do with that unit. Instead, it has everything to do with the Cardinals’ defense.

Middleton brings back four all-Big Eight Conference players, several key contributors from last season and others that have been patiently waiting their turn.

TOWN OF MERTON — Twenty four months ago, Middleton traveled to Bay Port and led the Pirates, 14-6, after three quarters of its season opener. Host Bay Port answered with 20 straight fourth quarter points, though, and rallied past the Cardinals, 26-14.

One year ago, the same teams opened their seasons in Middleton and the results were similar. Bay Port dominated on both sides of the ball, outgained the host Cardinals, 487-232, and toppled MHS, 38-21.

Now, Middleton is hoping the latest chapter in this trilogy will have a much different ending.

The Cardinals travel to Bay Port Thursday at 7 p.m. hoping to get a modicum of revenge. That won’t be easy, though, as the Pirates are 22-3 over the last two seasons and are once again expected to be one of the elite teams in the state.

Twelve months ago, Will Garlock could have left his cell phone on in church — or the library — and it probably wouldn’t have mattered much.

Oh sure, the Middleton High School junior-to-be got his share of calls and texts from buddies and family members.

But colleges? To them, Garlock was the Invisible Man.

“I didn’t get a single call last summer,” Garlock said. “Not one.”

Boy, how things have changed.

These days, Garlock — who has grown to nearly 7-feet tall — better have his phone muted when he walks into a movie theater. That’s because Garlock’s stock has skied and the interest from colleges has reached a fevered pitch over the last few months.

Since Middleton’s season ended in March, Garlock has received offers from Wisconsin, Marquette, Virginia Tech and Penn State. Garlock has also received interest from schools such as Purdue, Michigan State, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota and Belmont.

John Boyle was fishing for a compliment.

Little did he know, that plan was about to blow up in his face.

Boyle, Middleton’s boys basketball coach from 1991-2006, recently asked his sons Danny and Tone who their favorite coach was during their time at MHS.

In unison, the Boyle brothers both said, “Raf.”

“They didn’t take long with their answer,” John Boyle said. “They just spit it right out. I was like ‘thanks guys.’ ”

Boyle shouldn’t feel too bad. A large number of players that passed through MHS the past three-plus decades would probably have the same answer.

Unfortunately for MHS, though, Raffel recently told Middleton head coach Kevin Bavery he won’t return next season. Raffel — who worked for the Middleton Police Department for 28 years — also retired from his campus support position at MHS.

When you saw them last, Middleton’s girls golf team was doing what they do virtually every fall.

Chase a state championship.

The Cardinals had a memorable two-day performance at University Ridge and finished second at the WIAA Division 1 state meet. That marked the ninth time in Becky Halverson’s 10 years as Middleton’s coach that her Cardinals had a top-three finish at state.

Barring anything unforeseen, it should be more of the same this season.

Middleton returns four of its top six players from that team, including senior Vivian Cressman, who figures to be one of the state’s elite players. Halverson’s deep program always has potential contributors waiting in the wings.

And if everything goes according to plan, Middleton should be back in the state title hunt once again.

The Grateful Dead probably said it best

What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been.

That’s certainly how Middleton co-football coaches Tim Simon and Joe Poehls, and the rest of the Cardinals have felt since the 2022 season ended.

The past nine months have felt like nine years — or maybe 90.

But the Cardinals were back at it Tuesday morning — and again that afternoon — as the 2023 campaign began.

In the rearview mirror was a bullying scandal, a coaching change and more drama than any show you’ll find on Netflix.

In front of these Cardinals is a clean slate, a fresh start and the hope that comes with a new season.

“We all know the truth and we all love each other and everyone treats each other good,” said Middleton senior outside linebacker Sam Pilof, a Rutgers recruit. “So it was just really good to get out here and compete. It was good. It just felt really, really good.”

Middleton boys volleyball player Ambrose Engling was highly recruited heading into his upcoming senior season from schools like Princeton, USC, and UC-San Diego.

Engling eventually chose Princeton, and one reason is he loved the culture.

“It started around my U-16 year, and it picked up quickly,” Engling said recently. “The process of me starting to be recruited to committing to Princeton took less than a year.”

Engling is coming off a terrific junior season in which he was named first-team all-Eight Conference after leading Middleton in kills (233) and posting a kill percentage of .376. Engling also tied for the team lead in aces (45), was second in blocks (37) and fourth in digs (59).

Engling helped lead Middleton to the state tournament, where he posted a match-high 21 kills against eventual state champion Waukesha Catholic Memorial.