Sports

They wanted to make a statement.

They wanted to let the rest of the state’s elite swimming programs know that they were legitimate.

And that’s exactly what Middleton did Saturday.

The Cardinals went to the star-studded Waukesha South Invite and won the 14-team event. Middleton finished with 333 points and edged state super-power Hartland Arrowhead (325). Verona-Mount Horeb (240), Madison West (230) and Cedarburg (213) rounded out the top five.

Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka noted that Arrowhead was without two of its top swimmers, who were both away on college recruiting trips. Still, that didn’t take anything away from the Cardinals’ magical day.

“The girls continued to make a statement about who we are as a team this season,” Cabalka said. “The state's best swimmers were at this invite and the girls wanted to compete at the same level as they do. 

All season long, Middleton boys volleyball coach Ben White has talked about climbing rungs of a ladder.

White knows it won’t be easy. And the Cardinals will most likely take small steps rather than gigantic leaps.

But Middleton certainly made a move up the ladder last Saturday, when it finished second at the Wauwatosa East Invite.

“We are nowhere near the top, but we are still remembering to climb one step at a time,” White said. “We aren’t even worried about how tall the ladder is, we just know that at some point we have to reach the top and when we get there we can look down and reflect on our accomplishments. But not yet.”

Middleton’s performance at Wauwatosa East was certainly a terrific accomplishment.

There were signs of progress.

There were periods of growth.

And that has Middleton girls volleyball coach Franco Marcos extremely excited.

The Cardinals reached the semifinals of the 14-team Middleton Invite before losing to Platteville last Saturday. For a Cardinals squad searching for a branch of consistency to grab ahold of, it was an exciting day at the office.

“Overall it was a good performance by the team,” Middleton coach Franco Marcos said. “Everyone is back and we are working towards solidifying our starting lineup. 

“We expected a better performance in the win-loss column. However, we were still able to claw our way to the semifinals and faced a solid Platteville team.”

All season long, players and coaches talk about getting better every day, every week, every game.

Well, Middleton’s football team has been putting that talk into action after perhaps its best all-around performance of the season.

Middleton excelled in all phases of the game in an impressive 45-13 rout over rival Sun Prairie in a Big Eight Conference game last Friday. 

“It’s a great team effort,” Middleton coach Tim Simon said. “Offense, defense, and special teams all did great tonight and I think there were a couple times where things could have gone south for us. We gave them the ball back in good field position and our defense stepped up huge and held ground. The offense did a good job of moving the ball, moving the chains, and, obviously, getting some good scores in.”

Senior defensive back Griffin Gussel agreed.

“We had a lot of fire, a lot of aggressiveness, we were flying around,” Gussel said. “It was a great game.”

Middleton’s girls softball team was down to its last at-bat of the 2015 season.

As Cardinals’ head coach Cherie Hellenbrand watched the final out in a sectional semifinal loss to DeForest, she had one overriding thought.

“It was a pop-up, and as the ball was up in the air, I was thinking, ‘This will be my last time standing on third base,’ ” said Hellenbrand, who also teaches Business at MHS. “I love coaching, but I just didn’t think I could keep making it work.”

So last week, Hellenbrand informed Middleton athletic director Bob Joers she won’t be back for the 2016 season. Hellenbrand broke the news to her team earlier this week.

The ultra-successful, competitive and driven Hellenbrand spent the last four months trying to figure out a way to balance family and coaching. But when Hellenbrand realized that was an impossibility, she announced her resignation.

To say there was remorse throughout the program would be a substantial understatement.

Many of the state’s most gifted and talented golfers came to Pleasant View Golf Course Saturday for the star-studded Cardinal Invite.

And Middleton sent them all home somewhat disappointed.

The Cardinals shot a 322-team score and won the 23-team tournament. Brookfield Central and Verona tied for second at 323, while Milton was fourth (328) and Franklin was fifth (344).

“We had taken second place the last two years so we really wanted it,” Middleton coach Becky Halverson said. “I was really proud of the girls and how focused and calm they were all day.”

Cardinals senior Loren Skibba, the WIAA’s defending state champion in Division 1, tied for second with a 1-over-par 73. Junior Alexis Thomas shot a 77 and tied for sixth place.

Payton Hodson shot a career best 85, highlighted by a chip-in birdie on the fifth hole of The Woods course. And Morgan Narowetz shot an 87.

Their start was slower than they’d hoped.

Boy, has Middleton’s boys soccer team exploded in the last week, though.

The Cardinals cruised past four opponents last week by a combined score of 25-1. Among the victories was a 6-0 statement win over Big Eight Conference rival Verona and two impressive wins at the Kettle Moraine Quadrangular.

Middleton improved to 5-2 on the young season.

“Very good week,” Middleton coach Ben Kollasch said. “Four wins and only one goal against is a huge improvement from the previous week.”

Standout junior forward Braden Allen had a huge week with three hat tricks and nine total goals.

“Bradan Allen has surged forward and has regained his form from last year after a few injuries,” Kollasch said. “He is looking to surpass his totals from last year around midseason this year.”

There’s been a buzz around Middleton’s girls swimming and diving program all fall.

There’s a gifted group of freshman. A terrific batch of sophomores. And a number of upperclassmen with decorated résumés.

The Cardinals proved last Saturday just why there’s been so much hype.

Middleton went to the star-studded Brookfield East Invite and won the 14-team event.

The Cardinals finished with 486 points and easily outdistanced runner-up Madison West (321). Verona-Mount Horeb was third at 315, while Madison Edgewood (293) and Brookfield East (225) rounded out the top five.

“I was very proud of the overall effort of the team,” Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka said. “We were able to win some close races, score a lot of events and prove that our depth of talent is the real deal. We certainly walked away with a new sense of accomplishment and pride, and I think the girls were able to see their hard work begin to pay off.”

One was second.

The other was third.

Eventually, both believe they can be No. 1.

Middleton’s cross country teams gave impressive performances at last Saturday’s River Valley Invite. The girls finished second among 19 teams in the Large Schools division, while the boys were third out of 20 teams.

It was an imposing performance by two teams that are undoubtedly trending upward.

“Our girls have a lot to celebrate and should take pride in their performances,” Middleton co-coach Cindy Bremser said.

Isaac Mezera, Middleton’s second co-coach, agreed.

“We just need to keep everyone focused and working hard, and those times will drop,” Mezera said.

Mighty Sun Prairie won the girls race with just 48 points, while the Cardinals were second at 65. Freedom (114), Holmen (156) and McFarland (159) rounded out the top five.

Middleton senior Sam Valentine was third overall, finishing in 18 minutes, 50 seconds.