Sports

Derek Rongstad scored more points this season than any junior in the history of Middleton boys basketball.

Rongstad set team records for most three-pointers in a game (seven) and a season (56).

Even more amazing, Rongstad accomplished that despite missing three games.

So it was no surprise last week when Rongstad was named first-team all-Big Eight Conference. Middleton junior guard Luke Schafer was named third-team and junior forward Max Oelerich was named honorable-mention all-league.

“Look up ‘gym rat’ in the dictionary and there's Doc's picture,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said of Rongstad. “Sometimes you have to worry about whether someone is focusing on the wrong things or getting into a situation that might hurt more than help when it comes to offseason training and playing. But with Doc it all starts with a great work ethic as his foundation.”

Liz McMahon had a remarkable season for Middleton’s girls basketball team.

McMahon averaged a whopping 16.5 points per game, which was roughly one-third of the Cardinals’ total offense. McMahon also led Middleton in rebounding (9.8), steals (2.9) and shot 48.0% from the field.

So it was no surprise that McMahon — a junior forward — was named to the all-Big Eight Conference first-team last week. Middleton senior guard Shannon McCauley was also named honorable-mention all-conference.

“I was happy that Liz was recognized,” Middleton coach Jeff Kind said. “She had a very good year and is continuing to improve her all-around game. I look forward to having her come back next year as a leader with a great deal of varsity experience.”

McMahon was Middleton’s leading scorer as a sophomore, when the Cardinals reached the WIAA Division 1 state semifinals. And McMahon took her game to a new level this season.

For weeks, they all echoed largely the same thoughts.

Nothing is guaranteed. Tomorrow promises you nothing. There are zero things in life owed to you.

For having such perspective, Middleton’s boys basketball team deserves a great deal of credit.

With that being said, though, everyone around the Cardinals understands that the 2013-’14 season could be a banner one.

Middleton will bring back its top three scorers from this year’s team that went 14-11 and reached a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal. The Cardinals figure to welcome back six of the top seven players from their rotation and 10 total players that saw quality minutes this winter.

While the Cardinals have tried to stay grounded when talking about next season, they also realize it could be one of the better seasons in recent memory.

The fact it ended was tough enough.

But when Middleton’s hockey team was eliminated from the postseason after a so-so effort, it made the ending even tougher.

“Mixed emotions,” Middleton co-coach Steve Libert said. “Because you want to go out playing your best and we did not have a peak performance.”

Still, Middleton’s season was a huge success.

After immense graduation losses from a year ago, few knew what to expect from the 2012-’13 Cardinals. But Middleton exceeded most expectations.

The Cardinals went 18-6 overall and finished second in the Big Eight Conference at 11-3. Middleton reached the WIAA sectional finals, before falling to Madison Edgewood, 3-2, in double overtime.

“One fantastic aspect about this year’s team was the diverse interests that they brought together in the locker room,” Libert said. “They all had respect for one another’s interests.”

The Cardinals will take some hits in graduation.

There isn’t much Jake Bunz didn’t do for Middleton’s hockey team this year.

Score. Defend. Lead.

Bunz did it all.

Therefore, he was an easy pick as a first-team all-Big Eight Conference defenseman.

In addition to Bunz, Middleton sophomore goalie Max McConnell, senior defenseman Ethan McLeod and junior forward Jordan Carey were all named honorable-mention all-league.

Bunz was a unanimous selection to the first team, and it’s easy to see why.

Bunz led Middleton in points (29), goals (17) and finished seventh in the conference in scoring. Bunz was the only defenseman in the league to finish in the top-10 in scoring.

Bunz also was a finalist for the Davis Drewskie award, given to the top defenseman in the state of Wisconsin.

“It was pretty obvious that Jake was the top defenseman in the conference,” Middleton coach Steve Libert said.

Middleton’s girls’ basketball team won’t be making its typical trip to state this season, but it certainly won’t be for a lack of effort.

Showing true grit and heart, the Cardinals battled back from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit only to drop a 73-62 decision in overtime to Madison La Follette in a WIAA Division 1 regional final last Saturday.

The loss ended Middleton’s run of five consecutive state tournament appearances.

“When we went down by nine, nobody was ready for the season to end and we were all trying to rally back,” said junior forward Liz McMahon, who led Middleton with 17 points. “Natalie (Staples) made some big free throws and we made some big stops on defense, but we just weren’t able to finish it off. We tried really hard and we left it all out there.”

Not this time.

That was the message Middleton’s girls basketball team delivered to Madison West — and Regents standout sophomore guard Ebony Nettles-Bey — during a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal last Friday.

Two weeks earlier, Nettles-Bey erupted for 30 points and West nearly pulled a stunning upset of the Cardinals.

This time, though, Nettles Bey was held to 16 points — just six in the second half — and Middleton cruised to a 54-36 win.

The Cardinals improved to 15-8, while West ended its year 8-15.

“We did a nice job defensively on Nettles-Bay,” Middleton coach Jeff Kind said. “We tried to limit her touches vs. the press and make her give it up when she did get it. 

“She's still going to get some points, but we didn't let her get open looks in the lane like the previous game. Our guards, particularly Darcy Dean and Natalie Staples, really made things tough for her.”

They’ve been a dynamic duo for Middleton’s girls gymnastics team all season.

And last Friday was no different for Aryn Skibba and Bianca Bakkar.

Skibba, a junior, finished sixth in the all-around competition at the WIAA Division 1 individual state meet in Wisconsin Rapids with a sensational score of 37.317. Bakkar, a senior, placed ninth as an all-arounder with a dynamic score of 36.517.

“I am so proud of Aryn and Bianca,” Middleton coach Kari Steck said. “Between the two of them, a Middleton gymnast placed on every event in the individual competition. Only two other teams (Franklin Co-op and Burlington Co-op) could say that leaving Friday. 

“I think that's incredible and it says a lot about the depth of Middleton and the consistency of Aryn and Bianca. Even under stressful, high pressure situations such as Friday night individuals, they both shine.”

Skibba, who was fourth at state individually last year, had another banner meet.

This wasn’t an off day.

There was no disappointment, no dissatisfaction.

In fact, Middleton girls gymnastics coach Kari Steck isn’t sure why that question would even be asked.

Middleton went to the WIAA Division 1 state meet in Wisconsin Rapids last Saturday and finished seventh overall at the 10-team event. The Cardinals entered the meet ranked third in the state.

Middleton posted a solid score of 139.560. But that was more than one point less than the Cardinals averaged at the Big Eight Conference meet and the Waunakee Sectional.

But Steck insisted her team had no displeasure with seventh place.

“It was not an off day for the team,” Steck said. “I'm not sure why you ask? Competition at the state meet is good and tough, as it should be. We were happy to be there, and the girls did their best. I am very proud of them. 

WATERTOWN — The locker room was virtually empty now.

Middleton boys basketball coach Kevin Bavery had spoken to his team for 30 minutes. He spent another 20 minutes talking to the local media.

With the recorders off and the players gone, the reality that Middleton’s surprising season had come to an end had now fully registered.

“Damn,” Bavery said. “Damn.”

And really, not much more needed to be said.

In a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal Thursday night, Madison Memorial got the best of Middleton for a 20^th straight time. The Spartans erased an early 17-6 deficit, played stifling defense the rest of the way, and downed the Cardinals, 59-49.

Middleton, which hasn’t defeated Memorial since Feb. 3, 2005, ended its year 14-11. Memorial improved to 21-4 and will face Mukwonago (21-4) Saturday in search of its 10^th straight trip to state.