Sports

The competition was cranked up.

And Middleton’s girls swimming team was certainly up to the challenge.

The Cardinals faced some of their toughest tests of the year last week and came through with flying colors.

Middleton defeated Madison West, 103-67, last Friday and improved to 5-0 in the Big Eight Conference. The Cardinals then finished in third place at the star-studded Waukesha South Invite last Saturday, an event that featured the top five teams from last year’s WIAA Division 1 state meet.

“All in all, the girls swam well,” Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka said.  

The Cardinals certainly swam well against the Regents in their toughest conference meet of the season.

Middleton’s 200 yard medley relay team of sophomore Victoria Lin, senior Ashley Aegerter, senior Sam Andryk and senior Olivia Kossel was first.

Now we know what’s coming.

And it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Middleton’s girls cross country team went to the Big Eight Grade Level Challenge last Tuesday and took part in a barn burner. Madison West won the 10-team event with 28 points, while Middleton and Sun Prairie tied for second at 29.

Middleton was awarded second place, though, because its seventh runner beat Sun Prairie’s seventh runner.

“The Big Eight Grade Level Challenge was a snapshot of what’s to come with the girls teams,” Middleton co-coach Cindy Bremser said. “In previous meets Madison West beat Sun Prairie, then Middleton beat West. One week later, Sun Prairie beat Middleton. 

“This shows how close each team is and will make everything interesting for the Big Eight Conference meet and sectionals. All three teams are in the same sectional, with only two teams advancing.”

Sam Valentine was Middleton's top finisher, placing second in the freshman/sophomore race.

The start wasn’t what Middleton’s boys volleyball team was looking for.

But the rest of the Cardinals’ Saturday went just as planned.

Middleton dropped its first match of the day to Racine Horlick at the power-packed Wauwatosa East Invite. But the Cardinals came back to win their final three matches and captured first place in the Silver Bracket.

Waukesha West won the nine-team tournament, defeating Wauwatosa East and Racine Horlick to capture the gold bracket.

“After Horlick sent us a little wake-up call, we responded and played probably our best volleyball of the year,” Middleton coach Ben White said.

Horlick opened the day by toppling the Cardinals, 25-16, 19-25, 19-17. Middleton went to bigger lineup with Noah Wong in the middle and Jason Arora on the outside, and it helped the Cardinals hang tough throughout.

They were playing with a short deck.

So in many ways, Middleton’s girls volleyball team had a lot to be happy with last Saturday.

On the other hand, the Cardinals certainly hoped for more.

Middleton hosted one of the area’s largest and most talented invite’s, then played much of the day without several starters, who were taking their ACT tests.

The Cardinals lost all three matches in pool play, then rallied to win the Bronze pool.

It wasn’t an ideal day for the Cardinals, but they made the best of the situation.

“Overall, it was a good weekend,” Middleton coach Franco Marcos said. “Our players did their best until the starters got back from the ACT testing.  

“By that time we could not recover and make it to the gold. We salvaged the day by winning the Bronze, but it was not enough.”

When it comes to girls golf, the Big Eight Conference is undoubtedly the finest league in Wisconsin this fall.

Four of the state’s top 10 teams reside there. Middleton and Verona have both spent time as the state’s No. 1 team.

There’s talent, depth and skill around every dogleg.

So when Middleton captured the Big Eight’s dual meet championship last week, the Cardinals realized what a monumental accomplishment that was.

“Everyone on the team was extremely happy when we won the conference,” Cardinals senior Sheenagh Cleary said. “The conference match that made us all the most happy was when we beat Verona.

“They have been one of our biggest rivals and we knew it would be tough to beat them. When we did, I think it made us all realize that all the hard work that we have put in this season has paid off so far.”

Cardinals coach Becky Halverson agreed.

It’s already been a season packed with a world of excitement.

Big wins. Huge shots. Terrific memories.

And now Middleton’s girls tennis team has this: they’re the No. 1 team in the state.

The Cardinals vaulted to the top of the polls last week. And a buzz immediately swept through the program.

“Being voted No. 1 in the state is really exciting for us because we realize that we are getting noticed,” said Middleton No. 1 singles player Bridget Bellissimo. “Although this is great, my team and I know that we are No. 1 only on paper. 

“We all are on the same page, that … we still need to prove that we belong in that spot. We have to keep working hard like we always have, and I really believe this team is going to come through and prove we can get to that level ranking in the state.”

Cardinals sophomore Kaisey Skibba, who plays No. 2 singles, agreed.

The target was large.

The response was even larger.

Middleton’s girls swimming team went to the star-studded Brookfield East Invite last Saturday with a giant bulls-eye on its collective back. The Cardinals then responded in a huge way.

Middleton captured its fifth title in six years at this highly-competitive event. The Cardinals finished with 515 points and rolled past runner-up Verona/Mount Horeb (438). Brookfield Central (317), Brookfield East (289) and Sun Prairie (288) rounded out the top five at the eight-team invite.

“This has been a great meet for us,” Middleton coach Lauren Cabalka said. “We knew we had a target on our backs going into this meet, especially since Verona was there.  

Middleton and Verona.

Verona and Middleton.

It’s become one of the top rivalries — in all sports — in Dane County. And the girls golf programs are no different.

Last week, the Cardinals and Wildcats went head-to-head three times in a series of thrilling events.

The highlight for Middleton came during a triangular Thursday at Tumbledown. The Cardinals shot a blistering 324 and ran away from the Wildcats (347).

The win propelled Middleton to 6-0 in the Big Eight Conference, while Verona fell to 5-1.

“Our main focus for the week was our conference triangular against Verona and Madison West at Tumbledown,” Cardinals coach Becky Halverson said. “I was extremely happy with our play at Tumbledown.  Our attitudes were positive for the entire round and it showed in our scores.”

It sure did.

Middleton’s girls cross country team finished second at the star-studded River Valley Invite last Saturday.

Sun Prairie won the event with 66 points, while Middleton was second at 71. Dodgeville-Mineral Point (85), Dubuque (118) and Mount Horeb (145) rounded out the top five.

“We had another successful outing,” Middleton co-coach Cindy Bremser said. “Every girl that competed ran a faster time than the previous week.”

Middleton’s boys finished fourth among 16 teams.

Madison La Follette won the boys race with 62 points, while Dubuque (74), Freedom (105), Middleton (105) and Mount Horeb (134) rounded out the top five.

“We put all seven varsity runners under 18 (minutes), which was one of our season goals,” Middleton co-coach Isaac Mezera said. “It’s time to set some new goals. I guess it didn't take long for this group to surprise.”

It was a harsh reality. But it was also one that could help Middleton’s boys volleyball team in the coming weeks.

Middleton went to the star-studded Racine Invite last Saturday, struggled early and wound up in the consolation bracket.

“Overall we learned a lot this week,” Middleton coach Ben White said. “We learned we need to work harder, play with a little intensity and value the ball. 

“That last one is the big one. The final four teams at the Racine Invite were all the teams that kept the ball in play, not the biggest hitters. A valuable lesson.”

Middleton opened with a 21-7, 12-21 split against Kaukauna, the No. 3 team in the state.

In the first game, the Cardinals had nine kills on 11 attempts, three aces and zero passing errors. In the second game, Middleton had four kills and nine hitting errors.