Sports

The boys golf season has just started.

But Middleton made an early-season statement on April 9-10.

The Cardinals won the two-day, eight-team Quad Cities Classic in Peoria, Ill., against some of the top teams in Wisconsin.

Middleton shot a blistering 601 to outdistance runner-up Green Bay Notre Dame (615). Sheboygan North (626), Germantown (628) and Brookfield Central (629) rounded out the top five.

“It's always great to win an event, especially a two-day against some quality teams,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “Definitely a confidence booster.”

The teams opened at demanding Fyre Lake National Golf Club and the Cardinals had a tremendous day, shooting a sizzling 293.

Junior Sammy Forslund had a magnificent round, firing a 2-under, 68, his lowest as a Cardinal. Forslund made five birdies, hit 15 greens in regulation, was 3-for-3 in par saves around the green, and was 14 of 16 on putts inside of 5-feet. 

They were in trouble.

Trailing in a game that many felt would be a walk in the park.

Then Middleton’s bats came to life at the perfect time to avoid disaster.

The softball Cardinals erupted for five runs in the sixth inning and they rallied past Madison West, 7-4, on April 10.

Middleton improved to 3-1 overall and is 3-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

“We did not have our best night (against West) and we all acknowledge that,” Middleton manager Brittany Carl said. “Sometimes you just have those days where something feels off as a team, things aren't clicking, and you have to take that deep breath, get gritty and find a way to win. That's what we did. Good teams figure it out.”

BROOKFIELD — Middleton’s boys tennis team opened its season with a fifth place finish at the 32-team Brookfield Central Classic on April 11-12.

The Cardinals went 4-1 overall and defeated Marquette, 4-3, in the fifth place match.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ matches throughout the weekend.

• Middleton 7, Wauwatosa East 0 — The Cardinals were the No. 4 seed in the tournament and rolled past the 29^th-seeded Red Raiders on April 11.

Alexander Bo, Preetham Peddireddy, Henry Arp and Cam Hosfield all posted singles wins for the Cardinals.

In doubles action, the duos of Bodi Russo/Blake Gibson, Zander Endres/Andy Jin and Eric Sun/Lucas Kurtz all notched straight set wins.

• Middleton 5, Menomonee Falls 2 — The Cardinals won three of four singles matches and two of three doubles matches and toppled the Phoenix.

Middleton’s girls track and field team finished in seventh place at the 21-team Franklin Invite last Friday. The Cardinals’ boys were 10^th out of 19 teams.

Germantown won the girls title with 85 points, while Brookfield Central was second (72) and Bay Port and Verona tied for third (57). Middleton finished with 44 points.

On the boys side, Kettle Moraine (81), Marquette (69) and Waukesha West (64) captured the top-three spots. Middleton finished with 31 points.

Here are the Cardinals that notched top-10 finishes.

GIRLS

• Olivia Chellevold was third in the 1,600-meter run in 5:26.13.

• Sophia Dergacheva was third in the high jump (5-0) and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.50).

• Noel Neuser was fourth in the high jump (4-10).

• Andrea Wipperfurth was seventh in the triple jump (32-6).

• Addison Chellevold was ninth in the 3,200-meter run (12:47.62).

He’s not scorching hot. Yet.

But he’s not ice cold, either.

And after the start to the year that Middleton’s Easton Harris has had, he’ll take it.

The senior right fielder broke out of a mini slump in the Cardinals’ 16-1 win over Madison La Follette on April 10 — belting a two-run homer to right field. Harris remained locked in Friday, lacing a two-out, two-run double in the first inning to spark Middleton to a 5-3, Big Eight Conference victory over visiting Janesville Parker.

Harris also singled in the bottom of the fifth inning and pinch runner August Faessler came around to score on Jonathan Schecher’s RBI double for the Cardinals’ final tally of the contest.

Middleton improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

Girls soccer teams across the state began practicing on March 24.

Many played their first game as early as April 1.

And the majority of those outfits probably said their goal was reach the state tournament in late-June.

Middleton is among those schools that will be targeting a trip to state, only here’s the difference.

For many of those schools, such chatter is undoubtedly a pipe dream. The Cardinals, on the other hand, bring back eight all-Big Eight Conference players and anything short of state will be a disappointment.

“Our goal is the same — get to state,” said Middleton coach Mary Duffy, whose team begins their new season Friday at Hartland Arrowhead. “Get as far as we can with our amazing, awesome seniors — to play as long as we can with them.”

Middleton saw two of the state’s best softball programs last week.

And now the Cardinals know what it takes to become the best.

Middleton opened its year with a 3-1 win over Big Eight Conference rival and traditional power Verona on April 3. The Cardinals then dropped a 7-1 decision to visiting Kaukauna — which won state titles from 2021-’23 — last Saturday.

Middleton is now 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Eight,

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 3, Verona 1 — Senior pitcher Megan Button threw a complete game gem and picked up the win for the Cardinals.

Button struck out six, didn’t walk a batter and allowed just two hits and one run in seven innings of work. Button threw strikes on 58 of her 81 pitches (71.6%) and carried a perfect game into the seventh.

Middleton’s baseball team split its first two games of the year last week.

Waunakee edged the Cardinals, 5-4, in eight innings on April 4. Middleton then rebounded with a 7-0 blanking of Milton on April 5.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Waunakee 5, Middleton 4 (8) — The Cardinals dropped their season-opener when the Warriors scored in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“We didn't play well, but we were still in a position to win the game late, which is something positive we can build on,” Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen said. “We were uncharacteristically amped up, and did not play with good body language. However, we hit well with two strikes and made solid contact for much of the game.”

Koeplin Look and Jonathan Schecher both had two hits and an RBI to lead Middleton’s offense.

They say first impressions are often the most telling.

If that’s the case, it figures to be a memorable spring for Middleton’s boys golf team.

The Cardinals shot a 298 team score and won the Madison Memorial Triangular at Odana Hills Golf Course on April 3. Madison West was second with a 319 and Madison Memorial was third (329).

“It was our first time out on the course,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “Our first three days were spent in meetings — golf rules and team expectations. 

“Prior to teeing off, I told the varsity five to keep their expectations in check, being the first match, 38 degrees and high winds. I thought that our first four players would play well, but I certainly did not expect them to play as well as they did. 

“A 298 was a great score. It was a great testament to those players to get themselves ready in the preseason and play the way they did in our first match.”

Middleton’s boys lacrosse team exited on a high in 2024 — winning the first-ever WIAA state championship.

Now, the Cardinals are hoping 2025 brings more of the same.

Middleton opened its new season by splitting a pair of games last week.

Middleton defeated Sun Prairie, 14-9, in its season-opener on April 3. The Cardinals then fell to New Trier (Ill.), 8-4, last Saturday.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week.

• Middleton 8, Sun Prairie 4 — Attackman Evan Mazur scored three goals to power Middleton past Sun Prairie.

Freshmen Aksel Chelesvig also had a memorable debut, with a near-perfect performance at faceoff.

Middleton built an 8-0 lead in the first half, then went deep into its bench in the second half.

Middleton’s JV team also won, 10-0.

• New Trier (Ill.) 8, Middleton 4 — New Trier scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to break a 2-2 tie and pull away.