Sports

This wasn’t the ending anyone wanted.

But the beginning itself has been quite satisfying.

Middleton’s boys basketball team — a unique group carrying 18 players with little to no varsity experience — dropped a 57-56 decision to Madison East last Thursday. But these inexperienced Cardinals, who are also playing a completely new style of basketball, have no complaints about the start of their season.

Middleton fell to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Eight Conference following its loss to East. And you had told Cardinals head coach Kevin Bavery last month he’d open the season 3-1, he’d have signed on the dotted line as fast as possible.

“Absolutely. Absolutely,” Bavery said. “At the same time, we want to maximize every opportunity that’s presented us and I don’t think we did that (Thursday).”

Perhaps.

It was a memorable year for Middleton’s football team.

And the Cardinals were certainly recognized when it came time for postseason honors.

Middleton had 11 players named first-team all-Big Eight Conference, six received second-team honors and five others earned honorable-mention honors.

Middleton’s 22 all-conference selections were a league-high. But after winning the league with an 8-1 mark, that type of recognition seemed well-deserved.

“Of our 22 starters, 20 of them got recognition,” Middleton coach Tim Simon said.

VERONA — When C.J. Fermanich has the basketball in his hands, good things often happen.

So when Middleton’s sophomore point guard attacked the basket in the waning seconds of the first half last Friday night, teammate Tyree Eady knew exactly where he needed to be as well.

Fermanich delivered a beautiful pass in the paint to Eady who sank a layup an instant before the halftime buzzer sounded. Middleton rode that momentum to a 70-61 victory over host Verona in a Big Eight Conference boys basketball game.

“You have two athletic, heady, experienced sophomores,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “They have grown up playing so much basketball and know each other so well. Most teams would expect C.J. to go all the way to the rim, but he made that extra pass for the easy lay in.

VERONA — The past and present collided for Jeff Kind Thursday night. And in a game dripping with irony, Middleton’s girls basketball coach left with one of the more memorable victories of his stellar career.

Kind notched his 500^th career win when his Cardinals rallied for a thrilling 65-62 win over host Verona in an early-season clash of Big Eight Conference titans.

Middleton senior guard Elizabeth Norregaard put on a shooting clinic, making a remarkable 8-of-11 three-point shots and matching her career-high with 32 points. Interestingly, Norregaard’s performance came against Verona coach Angie Murphy (Halbleib), the finest player in Middleton history who was integral in Kind building the program to where it is today.

It all added up to a win Kind and the Cardinals will remember for a long, long time.

The list of accomplishments is long and impressive.

There have been three straight outright or shared Big Eight Conference titles. Memorable performances at the sectional level. And a handful of state qualifiers.

But Middleton’s wrestlers — who began their season Friday at Madison Memorial at 7 p.m. — have even loftier aspirations this winter.

“It’s that next level that we want,” Cardinals ninth-year coach Kent Weiler said. “We’re here now and we’re going to be stable for a while.

“But we have even higher expectations and these kids have expectations. We’re right on the fringe. Now, I want to see how these kids step up as we try getting to that next level.”

The level Weiler is talking about is the WIAA state team tournament, a place Middleton hasn’t been since 1994.

Middleton’s boys swimming team will have a blast from the past this season.
And what a blast it is.

Sam Niesen, one of the more accomplished swimmers in school history, has returned to be the Cardinals’ head coach. And Middleton — which began its season at the Brookfield East Invitational Tuesday — is expecting a terrific year under its new leader.

“So far, our time together has gone rather smoothly,” Niesen said. “There are a few things we need to work on as a team to improve, both in and out of the pool. But it’s obviously very early in the season and I’m not concerned about the long run.

“There are quite a few guys on the team that I see with a lot of potential, and I’m extremely excited to see what my coaching can do to break that out.”

If Niesen’s coaching skills come close to his swimming ability, the Cardinals will be in good shape.

It didn’t take long for Kari Steck to notice the difference.

Middleton’s girls gymnastics coach was in the gym an hour, maybe two, and the Cardinals’ boss could already see the change.

“The depth and determination this year is unlike any we've seen in a while,” Steck said. “From day one, we as coaches could tell it just felt different in the gym than it ever had before. It’s a special group of girls.”

Middleton opens its season Tuesday with a home meet against Mount Horeb at 6:30 p.m. And the Cardinals are expecting another special season.

Middleton had a memorable winter a year ago, winning Madison Memorial Sectional and finishing fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet.

Amazingly, Steck believes this year’s group will be even deeper than a year ago.

“The depth this year is fantastic,” she said.

Sophomore Madeline Pflasterer-Jennerjohn is Middleton’s top returnee.

Middleton’s hockey team wanted a big, early-season test.

And the Cardinals passed it with flying colors last weekend.

Middleton defeated Waunakee, 7-6, in overtime at the University School Tournament last Friday at Uihlein Ice Arena in Milwaukee.

The Cardinals and University School then battled to a 5-5 tie on Saturday.

“I was really impressed by our development in the short week,” Middleton coach Steffon Walby said. “We really played hard and showed a ton of grit.”

Middleton’s Wes Rock scored the game-winning goal against Waunakee. That capped an impressive offensive performance in which seven different Cardinals scored.

Middleton trailed, 6-5, late in regulation. But Jordan Hylbert’s goal with just 2:51 left in the third period forced overtime.

The Cardinals also got goals from Nolan Kouba, Casey Harper, Daylor Reifsteck, Colin Butler and Eric Karwoski.

They’ve been waiting for this type of performance for two years now.

So when Ian Hokanson went wild last Wednesday night, it provided a memorable evening for everyone inside Middleton’s boys basketball program.

Hokanson, a three-year varsity player and one of the few Cardinals with any experience, had the game of his life against visiting Madison Edgewood.

Hokanson erupted for a career-high 23 points, added six rebounds and led Middleton to a 66-58 win over the Crusaders. It was the season-opener for both teams.

“It was nice to see Ian attack the rim and get himself to the line as well as hit the three-point shot,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “He also led us in deflections (five) and in rebounds (six) showing how active he was on both ends of the court.”

Middleton senior post player Cole Jordee was forced to watch the closing minutes of the Cardinals’ thrilling season- and Big Eight Conference-opening girls basketball game from the bench on Tuesday night.

Jordee picked up her fifth foul in the final minute of regulation, and like fellow starter Grace Douglas who had fouled out earlier in the fourth quarter, had to flip the switch from participant to cheerleader.

However, that just made the Cardinals’ heart-stopping 85-80 victory in double overtime over Janesville Parker that much more exciting for Jordee and her teammates.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking. I wanted to be out there at the end,” said Jordee, who finished with six points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. “But I had to stay positive and cheer them on and be encouraging.”