Sports

Kari Egan-Steck always has great expectations. But Middleton’s girls gymnastics coach likes to temper them for the first meet each season.

This year, that probably wasn’t necessary.

The Cardinals opened their season last Tuesday with an impressive 134.625-132.275 win over visiting Mount Horeb.

“With the first meet you never really know what to expect,” Egan-Steck said. “But I think that the girls definitely exceeded my expectations. They had a phenomenal meet.”

These two programs know each other well from club gymnastics and traditionally open the season against each other. It leads to a meet that’s usually more friendly than fiery.

“It is a low stress, friendly meet that the girls have a lot of fun with,” Egan-Steck said.

It was a busy — and highly successful — week for Middleton’s boys swimming and diving team.

The Cardinals took second place at the Brookfield East Invite last Tuesday. Middleton then defeated Madison La Follette and Janesville Parker in a triangular last Friday, and finished second at the Janesville Parker Relays last Saturday.

Madison Memorial won the Brookfield East Invite with 593 points. Middleton was a distant second at 391.5, but the Cardinals finished ahead of traditional state powers Brookfield (299.5) and Hartland Arrowhead (284).

“We ended up beating Arrowhead and they took second at state last year,” Cardinals coach Luke Lengfeld said.

Middleton had several terrific performances on the day.

Middleton’s wrestling team entered the year flying below the radar of most.

But that might have changed last week.

Middleton toppled perennial power Hartland Arrowhead, 44-26, last Thursday. The Cardinals then finished second at the eight-team Reedsburg Scramble last Saturday.

“I think we left some matches out there that we probably should have won,” Middleton coach Kent Weiler said. “But overall I’m really happy. It’s a good start for us … and we have plenty of time to improve on things.”

A year ago, Middleton was drilled by Arrowhead. But 12 months later, the Cardinals took the fight to the Warhawks.

Middleton got pins from Lon Yeary (220), Sean Benedict (heavyweight), Brett Cain (113), Nathan Dresen (182) and Wyatt Cory (195).

Middleton also got wins from Justin Swiersz (126), Jake Cain (138), Shay Haase (160) and Taggart Haase (171).

Steve Libert knows there’s work to be done.

Middleton’s hockey coach fully understands his team is nowhere close to where it needs to be.

But Libert also knows this.

“It is more enjoyable to work on things while winning than the other way around,” he said.

And winning is exactly what these Cardinals are doing.

Middleton continued its impressive start last week, posting two shutout wins and improving to 4-0 on the young season.

Middleton skated past Sun Prairie, 2-0, last Tuesday. Then the Cardinals blasted Madison Memorial, 6-0, last Saturday.

“There are a few issues we need to address,” Libert said. “Defensively we watch the game when we are away from the puck. Forwards drift rather than speed back into defensive coverage, which leaves too big of a gap when there is a turnover. This stifles our attack, which in turn does not stress the opposition’s defense enough. 

What a difference a week makes.

Middleton’s girls basketball team, which struggled immensely in its season-opening loss to Kimberly, rebounded in a big way last week.

First, the Cardinals rolled past visiting Madison Memorial, 58-45, last Tuesday. Middleton followed that up with a 77-53 pasting of host Beloit Memorial last Friday.

Middleton improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

“We played at a much better pace the last two games,” said Cardinals coach Jeff Kind, whose team scored just 17 points in its season-opener. “I think we’re starting to realize how hard we have to play to compete. We have a long way to go, but we’re making progress.” 

Middleton got 14 points from junior center Anna Bunyan and 12 from sophomore forward Cole Jordee in its win over Madison Memorial. Senior guard Natalie Staples added eight points, while senior guard Leah Wolff and sophomore forward Jenna Blair both had six.

They’re still young and inexperienced.

Raw and somewhat undeveloped.

But Middleton’s boys basketball team certainly grew up some last week.

The Cardinals notched a pair of huge wins, first rallying past host Beloit Memorial, 60-51, last Thursday. Middleton followed that with an impressive 70-48 rout of visiting Janesville Parker last Saturday.

“This group really practices and plays with great energy and they genuinely like one another,” said Middleton coach Kevin Bavery, whose team improved to 2-1. “Both of those traits go a long ways as you build a team.”

Middleton trailed the Purple Knights, 38-37, heading to the fourth quarter. But Cardinals junior Luke Schafer and senior Tyler Markel both scored nine points in the fourth quarter as Middleton rallied for a huge road win.

Beloit was also whistled for back-to-back technical fouls in the final minute and Markel made 5-of-6 free throws to put the game away.