Sports

The goals never really change.

The reasons may surprise you, though.

Like every girls soccer team, Middleton will aim for a state championship this season. And Cardinals’ head coach Mary Duffy has reasons that might be different than many of her peers.

“Our goals are similar as every year: win that gold ball,” said Duffy, whose team begins its season Saturday. “But it isn't for reasons that many think of.

“What I know these girls want is a great experience, a memorable end to the school year, a chance to compete and play with their teammates. And if it ends earlier than we want or it ends with a gold ball, there will still be tears because we will be sad to not be playing with each other again.

“So what we want is to continue to play together for as long as possible, and to do that, to play with these amazing seniors for as long as possible, that includes state.”

Andre Glass needed some convincing.

But now that Glass took the plunge, Middleton’s new boys tennis coach is thinking big.

Middleton began its season Tuesday at Brookfield East. And even though the Cardinals will field a young and somewhat green outfit, Glass believes Middleton’s tradition of excellence will continue.

“Of course we would like to do well and I certainly would like to have individuals qualifying for state, as well as the entire team,” Glass said. “I would definitely say it is a top goal — an achievable one.”

Glass didn’t accept the coaching job until late-March. And it’s easy to see why.

Glass is an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Edgewood College. He also teaches at Hitters Sportsplex and the Village of Shorewood Hills.

But after some persuading from several Middleton parents — and encouragement from former Middleton coaches Greg Isermann and Bubba Schultz — Glass took the job.

Many of the state’s elite track and field athletes converged on Camp Randall Stadium last Saturday for the Madison West Relays.

And Middleton’s boys proved once again they belong with the best of the best.

The Cardinals had several terrific performances and finished third out of 22 teams. Stevens Point won the team title with 66 points, while D.C. Everest (57.3), Middleton (51.5), Oak Creek (50) and Menomonee Falls (38) rounded out the top five.

One year ago, Middleton finished fourth at this same event, then finished fifth at state. So Cardinals coach Isaac Mezera was highly encouraged by this year’s results.

“We're off to a great start with our veterans,” Mezera said. “Now it's time to see what depth we can find with all of these new guys.”

Middleton’s top finish came from junior Perrin Hagge, who defended his title in the 800. Hagge finished in 1 minute, 58.79 seconds — more than three seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

Middleton’s girls softball team opened the year by splitting a pair of games on their spring break trip to Walt Disney World.

Middleton rolled past Newton, Ohio, 13-3, last Thursday The Cardinals also lost to Canandasgun Academy (N.Y.), 6-5, in nine innings last Tuesday.

“Awesome opportunity to have lots of practice time and have some solid competition before our regular season starts,” Cardinals coach Cherie Hellenbrand said. “Our team was able to work some of the rust out. 

“We made several great plays when we went into extra innings against Canandasgun. Finally against Newton things came together. 

“Now we just need to keep working hard and continue to play solid fundamental softball. We are very fortunate to have parents who volunteer to make this trip possible.

Middleton has one of its youngest and most inexperienced baseball teams in years. So last week was an important one for the Cardinals.

Middleton spent its spring break at historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. The Cardinals went 1-2 in their three games, but that wasn’t particularly important.

What mattered most was that Middleton got some much-needed experience against high-end competition. And that should pay dividends down the road.

“All in all we had very good practices and real good competition to test our kids in game situations,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said. “Our learning curve was high each day we practiced and played. 

“We gained valuable time evaluating our needs for position play and pitching depth. We grew as a team and showed some grit we will need to play with in the Big Eight.”

Middleton opened with a 12-4 win over Kenston, Ohio.

Twelve months ago, they were the surprise of the Big Eight Conference. This year, Middleton’s girls softball team won’t be sneaking up on anybody.

The Cardinals finished third in the ultra-competitive Big Eight last season, won a regional title and went 17-8 overall. Now, with several key cogs back, Middleton should be in contention for a league title this spring.

“One of our strengths is we have a solid group of players coming back,” Middleton manager Cherie Hellenbrand said. “They understand the work ethic of what it takes to become champions.”

The Cardinals certainly have a terrific returning core to build around.

Sophomore outfielder Rachel Everson was a first-team all-Big Eight player last year. Senior infielders Katie Fermanich and Bianca Bockwinkel, and senior catcher Amber Karn were all named second-team all-league. Senior outfielder Abby Henke was also named honorable-mention all-conference.

The tradition of excellence extends back several decades.

State tournament berths. Conference titles. And winning at a high percentage each spring.

Yes, Middleton’s baseball team has been a dominant force for quite some time.

But the Cardinals will be extremely challenged to maintain their lofty position this season.

Middleton returns just two regulars from last year’s team that reached the WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinals. The Cardinals also have just one senior on the roster.

The 2015 Cardinals will be both young and inexperienced. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be successful, either.

“In a conference with a lot of experienced pitchers and players coming back, you can think we’ll be a little questionable,” said Middleton manager Tom Schmitt, whose team began its season with three games in Vero Beach, Fla., this week. “But these guys have competed enough in other sports and summer ball. So they’re not going to flinch too much.

Unfinished business.

Middleton’s 2015-’16 girls basketball team probably doesn’t have a slogan yet for a season that is still eight months away.

But that could very well be the Cardinals’ mantra next winter.

Middleton reached the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals this year, but lost in overtime when DSHA’s Arike Ogunbowale erupted for a state record 55 points. One night later, the Dashers routed D.C. Everest, 64-29, in the state title game.

Middleton will return a terrific nucleus next year. And the Cardinals — who came so close to a state championship this year — figure to be driven by that loss to DSHA and Ogunbowale.

“I expect that the trip to state will keep the returners hungry, knowing how close they were this year,” Middleton coach Jeff Kind said. “It took a fantastic, record-setting individual performance and overtime to keep us out of the state championship game.”  

Middleton’s girls basketball team enjoyed a magical season, reaching the state semifinals.

And the Cardinals were justly rewarded when it came to all-Big Eight Conference voting.

Middleton senior guard Elizabeth Norregaard was a first-team all-conference selection. Sophomore guard Bria Lemirande was named third-team all-league, while senior center Cole Jordee and sophomore guard Alyssa Lemirande were named honorable mention all-conference.

Norregaard was one of the top shooters in school history and led Middleton in scoring with 14.7 points per game. Norregaard made 64 three-point shots and shot 89.1% from the free throw line. Norregaard had a season-high 32 points at Verona, had a 26-point night against Beloit Memorial and was in double figures in 22 of 27 games.

In addition to being named first-team all-conference, Norregaard was named honorable mention all-state by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.

They spent their winter overlooked, disregarded and discounted.

In the process, they proved all the naysayers wrong.

Next season, Middleton’s boys basketball team won’t be sneaking up on anybody.

The Cardinals returned the most inexperienced team in the Big Eight Conference this year. But Middleton surprised everyone and went 17-7 overall and finished third in the conference at 13-5.

Next year, the Cardinals will bring back one of the most experienced teams in the league. And Middleton most likely be tabbed to finish second in the conference, behind WIAA Division 1 state qualifier Madison East.

“The biggest mistake anyone can make is to get complacent and to assume we will be better just because we’re a year older,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “Individual players making improvements is what will make our team better.