Sports

With loads of experience and talent, Middleton’s defense figures to be one of the more dominant forces in the Big Eight Conference this season.

So going up against a young Janesville Parker squad in its opener, it had to be a shock when the Vikings’ Eric Schumacher ripped through a gaping hole in the defense for a 28-yard gain on the first offensive play of the game.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, that play turned out to be one of the few big plays they allowed all night as they rolled to a 36-0 season-opening Big Eight Conference victory over the Vikings last Friday.

“That first play really was kind of a shock,” said Middleton senior linebacker Brian Chapman, one of six returning starters on defense. “They had that big run at first and we didn’t know how it was going to go from there, but after that we shut them down.”

CROSS PLAINS — Tim Simon has seen the coin land both ways. And he undoubtedly likes this view the best.

Simon, Middleton’s 11th-year football coach, has had teams with an unquenched thirst for the sport. He’s had others that weren’t quite as passionate.

When the Cardinals begin the 2014 campaign Friday against visiting Janesville Parker at 7 p.m., Simon believes this will be one of the most ardent and zealous outfits he’s ever fielded.

“We’ve got some hungry kids,” Simon said. “This group loves football as much as any team we’ve had.

“A lot of years you have 30 kids where football is their No. 1 sport. Then you have another 20 or 30 where football is No. 2, and so on. But this year, it’s like football is No. 1 with everybody.

“Even last year during JV basketball (where Simon is the head coach), a lot of days all they wanted to talk about was football. These kids can’t wait.”

Neither can Simon.

CROSS PLAINS — Tom Cabalka typically plays things close to the vest.

No matter how much Middleton’s veteran defensive coordinator loves his unit, he’ll rarely sing their praises in August.

This season was different, though.

“We’ve got a chance to be a pretty good defense,” Cabalka said.

That statement alone might tell it all.

Middleton’s defense brings back eight players that started at least one game a year ago. Six of those were starters throughout the season.

So after allowing 17 points a game in 2013, these Cardinals have their sights set even higher.

“Shutouts. That’s what we want,” senior safety Max Boehnen said. “We’re ready for it.”

The Cardinals certainly seem ready for big things.

The defensive line is experienced and deep. The linebackers can run. And there’s a bevy of talent throughout the secondary.

The casual observer might look at Middleton’s boys soccer team and predict a rebuilding season.

Guess again says Cardinals coach Ben Kollasch.

“For the foreseeable future we will be reloading,” said Kollasch, whose team begins its season Thursday against visiting Mount Horeb at 7 p.m. “We have the largest program in the state in terms of participation, which gives me lots of athletes that know how to play soccer well.”

Middleton lost 15 seniors from last year’s team that finished second in the Big Eight Conference. That group also went 11-8-1 overall.

Despite heavy losses to graduation, though — including all-state defenseman Jack Hagstrom — the Cardinals still have a 14-person senior class. And Kollasch is extremely optimistic that this group can do some damage.

They’ve waited in the wings.

They’ve patiently bided their time.

Now, several members of Middleton’s girls golf team are ready to show their stuff.

The Cardinals finished sixth at the 21-team, WPGA Invite held at Yahara Hills last Friday. It was Middleton’s first event of the year, and it competed without standout Loren Skibba, who was sidelined with a back injury.

The Cardinals had three girls who never competed in a varsity match, and two others with limited varsity experience. Still, Middleton hung tough against many of the state’s elite teams.

Milton won the tournament with a 322 team score, while Madison Edgewood (323), Verona (327), Homestead (329) and Arrowhead (338) rounded out the top five. Middleton was sixth at 342.

Together, they combined to win 12 varsity letters.

They captured two Big Eight Conference championships, and finished third and sixth the past two seasons at the WIAA Division 1 state meet.

Over the last three years, Middleton girls golfers Sheenagh Cleary, Kelly Wassarman, Hunter Schultz and Meggie Acker were instrumental in the Cardinals’ success. In fact, last season all four received some form of all-conference honors.

That sensational quartet has graduated, though, leaving Middleton with many questions.

It’s rare, though, when the Cardinals don’t have answers. Typically, they don’t rebuild. They reload.

And Middleton second-year coach Becky Halverson hopes that will be the case when the Cardinals open their season Friday at the Madison Edgewood Invite, which will be held at Yahara Hills.

Cross Plains — The look said it all.

Max Boehnen, a standout safety on Middleton’s football team, was informed his team was picked to finish fourth in the Big Eight Conference by wissports.net.

What followed was a facial expression that displayed disbelief, astonishment and a little bit of anger.

“Are you kidding me? No way,” Boehnen said. “I would easily pick us for No. 1.

“With what we have coming back, and the speed we’re picking things up mentally and physically, I really think we’re our own opponent. This will be a year that everybody’s going to remember.”

That seemed to be the feeling throughout the program as Middleton opened practice this week.

The Cardinals bring back eight players on defense that were either full-time or part-time starters. The defensive line could be one of Middleton’s best in years, as all four projected starters were vital cogs a year ago.

It’s almost reaching the point of absurdity.

And you wonder, how can things get any better?

During the 2013-’14 school year, Middleton captured a Big Eight Conference championship (either regular, postseason, or both) in 14 of the 22 sports it competes in. That’s a remarkable 63.6%.

Middleton was represented at state in 14 of its 22 sports. And the Cardinals brought home top-five finishes at state in seven different sports.

Picking the best of those achievements is tougher than avoiding construction in July. But here’s one person’s opinion on Middleton’s ‘Best of the Best’ last school year.

Girls team of the year: Tennis

Bridget Bellissimo spent her junior season playing tennis on the USTA circuit. Bellissimo had a blast, but also believed 2013 could be a special season at Middleton High School.

It was another banner year for Middleton’s baseball program, capped with a trip to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

And the Cardinals reaped the rewards, landing seven players on the all-Big Eight Conference team.
Senior pitcher Kasey Miller, senior catcher Jackson Keeler and senior first baseman Alex Elliott all received first-team all-league honors. Senior second baseman Zach Kasdorf was a second-team all-league selection, while senior pitcher Garrett Knudtson, senior outfielder Jordan Lueck and junior outfielder Tyler Holley were all named honorable-mention all-conference.

State champion Sun Prairie had the most all-conference players with 11, while Middleton and Janesville Parker were second with seven.

Miller had a tremendous season, going 9-1 with a 2.76 ERA. Miler allowed just 48 hits in 58 1/3 innings, struck out 51 and walked 37 batters.

It was a perfect 10 for Middleton’s girls soccer team.

The Cardinals, winners of the Big Eight Conference, had 10 players earn all-league honors. That was more than any other team in the conference.

Cardinals senior forward Ellen Jesse, senior midfielder Leia Peterman, sophomore defender Grace Douglas and senior keeper Liz McMahon were all named first-team all-conference.

Senior midfielder Caroline Keenan and senior defender Lia Passini were named second-team all-league. And senior forward Brenna Shea, junior midfielder Megan Sullivan, senior midfielder Samantha Andryk and junior defender Ashley Stahnke were all named honorable-mention all-conference.

In addition, McMahon was named first-team all-state by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association. Both Jesse and Peterman were named “Best of the Rest” on the WSCA’s all-state team.