Sports

Isaac Mezera examined all the results.

He crunched the numbers and inspected the data.

Then Middleton’s boys track and field coach came to the only solution possible.

“Saturday was a great day for the boys track program,” Mezera said.

And how.

Middleton brought the majority of its team to the power-packed Madison West Relays and finished fourth among 22 star-studded teams. The Cardinals also brought several athletes to the Watertown Invite, where Middleton finished second among 10 teams.

“When we got back to Middleton from the meet I told the guys we might just be a stronger team than last season,” said Mezera, whose team won the Big Eight Conference title a year ago. “That carries some pressure and expectations, but I think the guys are hungry for that.”

The Cardinals looked hungry at the West Relays, a meet featuring several of the state’s top programs. And Middleton showed it certainly belonged among the elite.

Ahhh, spring break.

Vacations centered around beaches, amusement parks, late nights and sleeping in.

This might be how many Middleton High School students spent last week. For Middleton’s girls softball team, it was the polar opposite.

Middleton’s players were up bright and early for a 90-minute practice. There were two-hour practices in the afternoon. And in between, there was an hour of classroom time.

Middleton head coach Cherie Hellenbrand returned this season after stepping down three years ago. And Hellenbrand has a rather simple philosophy.

“I want to be good. I don’t want to (stink),” Hellenbrand said. “And if we don’t put in the work, we’re going to (stink).”

The Cardinals have definitely experienced a fall from grace since Hellenbrand stepped down.

Middleton went 28-35 over the last three seasons, including a 25-28 mark in the Big Eight Conference.

Tom Schmitt wasn’t messing around.

Middleton’s veteran baseball manager gathered his team during one of their first practices of the season. And Schmitt delivered a rather simple message.

“I told them right off the bat that I’m tired of finishing second,” Schmitt said.

Middleton has been one of the state’s elite programs for two decades now. But Sun Prairie has been the class of the Big Eight Conference in recent seasons. Sun Prairie has won three straight league titles — including back-to-back WIAA Division 1 state titles.

Sun Prairie began this season ranked No. 1 in the state by wissports.net. But Middleton, which is ranked No. 11 and picked for third in the Big Eight, believes it has the talent to pass Sun Prairie this spring.

Hayden Acker knows all too well about Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Middleton’s senior football standout had three operations at Children’s between the ages of 12 and 16.

So you can understand Acker’s elation when he was recently named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game. Middleton senior linebacker Elliot Tanin was also selected for the game.

The game will be held July 19 at UW-Oshkosh’s Titan Stadium.

The WFCA All-Star Game benefits the patient care programs at Children’s Hospital. And Acker was thrilled to receive an invite to the game, as well as do his part to give back to Children’s.

“When I got the letter saying that I had been selected for the all star game, I was elated,” said Acker, an all-Big Eight Conference offensive lineman last season. “I called my dad immediately and told him. It’s such a great honor and I’m excited to represent Middleton.”

Just wait.

That’s the vive coming from Middleton’s girls track and field team right about now.

The Cardinals had an impressive performance at the Watertown Relays last Saturday and finished tied for third overall. Making the accomplishment even more exciting was Middleton competed without several athletes that were away for spring break.

Slinger won the 10-team event with 93 points, while Kettle Moraine (87), Middleton and Watertown (70.5 each) and Arrowhead (62) rounded out the top five.

“Not too bad considering spring break took many of our kids away,” Middleton coach Tara Franklin said. “We were able to have some new faces to the team competing in this meet, which helps us see what kind of contributions they will be able to make throughout the season.”

Isaac Mezera has been anxiously awaiting for his team to return to full strength.

In the interim, Middleton’s boys track and field coach is finding out just how deep and gifted his squad is.

The Cardinals have been shorthanded at the start of the season because of spring break. But Middleton has still performed admirably, including a second place finish at last Saturday’s eight-team Watertown Relays.

Watertown won the event with 100.5 points, while Middleton (98.5), Slinger (95), Arrowhead (57) and Shawano (56) rounded out the top five.

“In the end, the meet was an opportunity for us to see what some more guys could do,” Mezera said. “I was especially impressed with our sprinters at this meet. That and the versatility of the team. When I ask guys to try a different event out, they are happy to.” 

It was the program’s most memorable year in nearly a decade. And now, the goal is to continue the fun.

Middleton’s boys track and field team won the Big Eight Conference last spring for the first time since 2004. The Cardinals then won a regional championship, finished second at sectionals and were 19^th at state.

The Cardinals began their 2014 campaign last Saturday at the UW-Whitewater Invite, and their mission is quite simple.

“I told them that I didn't want last year to be a one and done thing,” Middleton coach Isaac Mezera said. “They agreed that our goal should be to make Middleton track a program that continues last year's success for years to come.

Tara Franklin has assembled one of the top girls track and field programs in the state.

Middleton’s head coach has her Cardinals at — or near the top — of the Big Eight every season. And Middleton is always threat at the state meet, as well.

So when Franklin says the following, you do an E.F. Hutton and immediately listen.

“I think this is one of the strongest teams we have had in years,” Franklin said. “We have great strengths in many of our returners, and lots of depth in distance and sprints/relays. I see us in the top of our conference and performing very well in the bigger invites as well as the postseason.”

Middleton is coming off a season in which it finished second in the Big Eight Conference, second at regionals and second at sectionals. In all three instances, Middleton was edged by Sun Prairie.

Middleton also finished in 23^rd place at state, and brings back several key contributors from that team.

Middleton’s girls basketball team reclaimed the Big Eight Conference title this season, its seventh league crown in eight years. So it came as no surprise that the Cardinals were well represented when it came to all-conference honors.

Middleton senior forward Liz McMahon was named first-team all-league, while junior guard Elizabeth Norregaard was named second-team all-conference and sophomore forward Grace Douglas received honorable-mention honors.

Middleton was the only team in the league to have three players honored in what became a somewhat controversial vote.

McMahon finished third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game. She also led Middleton in rebounding (9.0) and steals (3.0).

McMahon was named first-team all-conference for a second straight year.

The trio helped define Middleton’s boys basketball program the last two years.

They helped the Cardinals post 27 total wins, countless memorable performances and the school’s first win over Madison Memorial in nearly nine years.

So it was no surprise that Middleton’s Derek Rongstad, Luke Schafer and Max Oelerich each received all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Rongstad, a senior guard, was named first-team all-Big Eight for a second straight season. Schafer, a senior guard, and Oelerich, a senior forward, were both named honorable mention all-conference.

Rongstad, a preferred walk-on at UW-Milwaukee next season, was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection. He was joined on the first team by Madison Memorial center Darrlyn Willis, Sun Prairie guard Nick Noskowiak, Madison West guard Malik Clements and Janesville Craig guard Jerry Ngobi.