Sports

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — When they initially saw their name on the scoreboard, Middleton’s boys cross country team let out a groan.

That’s understandable, considering the Cardinals finished in the top-four at the WIAA Division 1 state meet every year between 2015-2020.

Upon further review, though, Middleton’s ninth place finish last Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course ranks among its most impressive finishes during a run of nine straight trips to state.

Middleton lost two of its top three runners from its 2020 squad. The Cardinals dealt with the death of teammate John “Jack” Miller last month.

And here they were, once again, racing with the best in the state.

Onalaska won the team title with 89 points, while Homestead (94), Wauwatosa East (148), Stevens Point (152) and Badger (169) rounded out the top five. Middleton finished with 270 points.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Blake Van Buren went the endzone and marked the spot of his historic tackle, one that will be remembered for years to come.

It was six inches shy of the goal line.

That’s how much room sat between the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

In a WIAA Division 1 Level 2 playoff game last Friday, host Wisconsin Rapids scored a touchdown with just 4 seconds left and pulled within 21-20 of Middleton. The Red Raiders didn't hesitate and opted to go for two points and the win.

Rapids overloaded the right side of the line and gave the ball to all-everything running back Leo Brostowitz, who already had three touchdowns on the night. Cardinals defensive end Keda Seals beat his man and slowed down Brostowitz, then Van Buren — an all-state linebacker — shed a block and finished off the junior running back.

Four weeks ago, following a heartbreaking 26-21 loss to arch-rival Sun Prairie, Middleton football coach Jason Pertzborn stood in the middle of Otto Breitenbach Stadium and uttered the most prophetic line of the Cardinals’ season.

“I’ll bet you we see these guys again,” Pertzborn said that night.

Maybe Pertzborn should change his name to Nostradamus.

Last Friday, Middleton survived a late rally from host Wisconsin Rapids and defeated the Red Raiders, 21-20, in a WIAA Division 1 Level 2 playoff game. At the same time, Sun Prairie was posting a 35-20 win over visiting Fond du Lac.

Now, the two Cardinals who have battled for supremacy in the Big Eight Conference for years will meet in a Level 3 playoff game Friday at 7 p.m. in Sun Prairie. The winner will be just two victories from a state championship.

MCFARLAND — Rob Kleinschmidt didn't mince words.

Kleinschmidt, Middleton’s boys volleyball coach, gathered his team after their season ended with a loss to Kettle Moraine in the sectional finals last Saturday. And Kleinschmidt’s message was simple one.

“I just said, ‘Losing sucks,’ ” Kleinschmidt said. “There’s no way around it.”

That’s for sure.

Middleton had a sensational season, one in which it earned the No. 1 seed in its sectional and climbed to No. 4 in the latest Wisconsin Boys Volleyball Coaches Association poll. But third-seeded Kettle Moraine played sensational volleyball and toppled the Cardinals, 25-20, 26-24, 26-28, 25-15.

The Lasers, who were ranked sixth in the state, earned the No. 4 seed at state and now face fifth-seeded Westosha Central in a quarterfinal match Thursday. Middleton ended its season 21-6.

BARABOO — The promise of victory, but the sudden reality of defeat played out for the Middleton’s girls volleyball team in a pressure-packed Baraboo gym last Saturday night.

When junior middle Sierra Pertzborn recorded one of her team-high three blocks to secure a victory in the third set of its sectional championship match with Holmen, Middleton appeared poised to earn its first trip to the WIAA Division 1 state volleyball tournament since 2009.

Top-seeded Holmen, though, had other ideas and used a strong serve-receive game to rally for a 3-2 victory over the second-seeded Cardinals in the Baraboo Sectional.

The Vikings (29-2) used seven aces in the fifth set to earn their first-ever trip to state with the 23-25, 29-27, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11 victory.

DEFOREST – ‘Just take a deep breath and relax.’

That mantra proved to be just what Middleton’s girls volleyball team needed to move one step closer to securing their first WIAA Division 1 state tournament berth since 2009.

Junior outside hitter Jordan LaScala led the way with a team-high 16 kills as second-seeded Middleton defeated third-seeded Waunakee, 3-1, in a sectional semifinal match in DeForest on Oct. 28.

“We like to take deep breaths together and it helps,” said junior setter Evin Jordee, who closed out the first two sets with kills. “We just need to remain calm, and then we play extremely well.”

The Cardinals (37-4), who defeated the Warriors 25-14, 25-21, 24-26, 25-21 in the sectional semifinals, advanced to meet top-seeded Holmen (28-2) in the sectional championship match.

Middleton’s girls swimming and diving won the Big Eight Conference meet held last Saturday at Verona High School.

The Cardinals won the meet with 628 points, while Madison West (573), Madison Memorial (377), Verona-Mount Horeb (323) and Sun Prairie (236) rounded out the top five.

Middleton had three of the top eight finishers in the diving competition. Avery Potrzbowski was third, Claire Jarugumilli was sixth and Megg Weiler was seventh.

Middleton’s 200-yard medley relay team of Lily Mair, Hannah Machleidt, Eva Anagnostopoulos and Ryanne Woodall was first, while the quartet of Ella Needham, Natalie Charles, Isabell Frommelt and Piper Garcia-Hall was fourth.

Middleton’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Woodall, Garcia-Hall, Emma Chandler and  Anagnostopoulos was first, while the foursome of Abby Ensenberger, Audrey Alexander, Abby Utter and Molly Haag was fourth.

Senior running back Elijah Gray and several of his Middleton teammates weren’t in a rush to head home following the Cardinals’ 33-3 victory over visiting Madison Memorial in a WIAA Division 1 first-round playoff game last Friday night.

The Cardinals lingered at midfield, hanging out on the team logo, taking pictures and relishing the win following what was likely Middleton’s final home game of the year.

“It was big because it’s my last year of playing high school football, and I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish after this year,” said Gray who rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown along with a two-point conversion. “To go out with a bang feels good. I’m proud of my team. We grinded hard, so I’m really thankful for this win.”

Third-seeded Middleton (7-3) advanced to play at second-seeded Wisconsin Rapids (7-3) — which defeated seventh-seeded Oshkosh West 35-0 — on Friday at 7 p.m. Sixth-seeded Memorial finished 5-5.

Middleton’s football team hasn't been to Level 3 of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs since 2016. And the Cardinals have only reached that impressive point twice since 2009.

But Middleton has a chance to reach the third round — which, in essence, is the Elite 8 — with a win at Wisconsin Rapids Friday at 7 p.m. in a Level 2 playoff game.

The Red Raiders, who are the No. 2 seed in their bracket, are 7-3 overall this season. Rapids is coming off a 35-0 win over seventh-seeded Oshkosh West in the first round of the playoffs.

Middleton, the No. 3 seed, is also 7-3 and coming off a 33-3 dismantling of Madison Memorial in a Level 1 game.

“We're right where we thought we would be,” Middleton coach Jason Pertzborn said. “I like where we are right now and how we're playing.”

He should.

Few expected this.

Then again, not everyone fully understands how well Middleton boys cross country coach Brian Finnel prepares a team for their biggest moments.

One week after a mediocre showing at the Big Eight Conference meet, Middleton produced its finest showing of the year. And now, the Cardinals are headed to the WIAA Division 1 state meet for a ninth straight year.

Middleton won the DeForest Sectional with 61 points last Saturday, easily outdistancing second-place Madison West (82). One week earlier, West had defeated the Cardinals by 29 points at the conference meet.

Middleton senior standout Griffin Ward captured the individual championship at sectionals, completing the 5,000-meter race in 15 minutes, 44.76 seconds. That was nearly 20 seconds faster than runner-up Jack Boerger of Sauk Prairie.