Sports

SUN PRAIRIE — Opportunity after opportunity came and went. Try as the Middleton boys basketball team did, the Cardinals just couldn’t close the gap on Sun Prairie East in last Thursday night’s Big Eight Conference clash.

Two- or three-point deficits turned into five- or six-point holes. Then back again, so on and so forth.

It was like a hound dog chasing a rabbit. Except, finally, in the final minute, the dog did indeed catch the rabbit.

A memorable comeback was in the cards, it seemed.

But just like that, Middleton’s thrilling rally was dashed.

Sun Prairie’s leading scorer, Gavin Van Wie, was fouled with 4.1 seconds remaining and made both free throws. And Middleton’s leading scorer, Will Garlock, couldn’t quite finish a well-designed full-court inbounds play, resulting in a 66-65 win for East in a match-up of second-place teams in the league. 

Middleton’s wrestling team won the 20-team Sauk Prairie Invitational last Saturday.

The Cardinals finished with 214.5 points and edged runner-up Mauston (188.5). Seymour (184.0), West Bend East (160.5) and Ithaca/Weston (153.0) rounded out the top five.

Middleton’s Sam Zanton finished first at 150 pounds, while Finn Grauwels (157) and Reed Falk (190) were both second.

Pavil Jones (138), Reese Miller (144) and Bryce Falk (175) all finished third.

Here's a recap of the Cardinals’ big day:

106 — Tavish Frank (10-11) placed 7th and scored 12.0 team points.

Middleton’s hockey team has taken a few lumps playing one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the state.

Inside the Big Eight Conference, though, the Cardinals are humming along.

Middleton remained in the chase for a conference title when it skated to a comfortable, 6-0 win over Madison Memorial on Jan. 4.

The Cardinals improved to 5-1 in the Big Eight and are 8-6 overall. Verona (8-5, 6-2) technically leads the conference with 12 points, but Middleton (10 points) has played two fewer league contests than the Wildcats.

“One of the things we’ve been really focused on lately is playing a full 51-minute game,” Middleton coach Dan Truehl said after the Cardinals defeated Madison Memorial. “We’ve looked great for 17 and 34 (minutes), but have yet to put it all together for three periods.

Middleton’s girls gymnastics team finished in fourth place among large schools at the seven-team Mount Horeb Invite last Saturday.

Verona/Madison Edgewood scored 142.550 and ran away with the team title. Monona Grove (131.70), Sun Prairie East/West (131.050), Middleton (128.0) and Waunakee/DeForest (125.50) rounded out the top five.

Middleton senior Sophie Pop-Vicas was ninth in the all-around competition with a 32.975, while sophomore Abby Arnold was 10^th (31.625).

Pop-Vicas was fifth on the floor exercise (9.050), while Arnold was 10^th (8.650), junior Jaelynn Kemp was 18^th (7.950) and junior Buna Karanezi was 24^th (7.50).

Pop-Vicas was eighth on the balance beam with an 8.525, while Karanezi was ninth (8.50). Arnold added a 19^th place finish (7.825) and Kemp was 21^st (7.725).

The streak is over.

Now, Middleton’s girls basketball team hopes to streak in the other direction.

The Cardinals ended their four-game losing skid last Friday with a 64-35 win over visiting Janesville Parker. Middleton improved to 3-10 on the year and 3-6 in the Big Eight Conference.

Kenzie Zimmerman knocked down three 3-pointers and led the Cardinals with 15 points, while Haley Strode added 13 points.

Middleton jumped to a 39-22 halftime lead and was never threatened in the second half.

Parker fell to 3-9 overall and 1-8 in the Big Eight.

• On deck: Middleton hosted Madison Memorial Tuesday, then faces Madison La Follette at Janesville Parker Saturday at 7 p.m.

Jan. 5

Middleton 64, Janesville Parker 35

Parker ……………. 22  13 — 35

Middleton ………. 39 25 — 64

Middleton athletics have been a force for decades now. What happened in 2023, though, was unprecedented.

The Cardinals won four WIAA Division 1 state championships — in both boys and girls swimming, boys soccer and boys volleyball. That’s the most state titles the school has ever held at one time.

As the calendar turns, we rank the 12 most impressive achievements of the year (one for each month).

We looked at No. 7-12 last week. Here are the top six sports stories of 2023.

1. Boys spikers capture gold

Brody Stuttgen hammered home the biggest point of his life, and pandemonium quickly ensued.

Just out of arm’s reach.

Middleton’s boys basketball team never fell behind Fond du Lac by a large margin in last Friday night’s non-conference match-up. But the Cardinals just couldn’t grab hold of victory either.

The result was a 68-56 loss — Fond du Lac finished with an 8-2 run over the final 2 minutes thanks to Middleton having to foul in an attempt to extend the game — that has the Cardinals going back to the drawing board despite a 6-2 record.

“It feels like when we needed that little bit of extra energy tonight, we just didn’t have it,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “As a coach, I just felt like they were better prepared and they were more disciplined. And they were tougher on the ball defensively.

“They did all those things that we work on and talk about but they just did them with a passion. We’ve got to find that energy, whether things are going well or not.”

Middleton’s hockey team found the sledding rough, losing two of three games at the Notre Dame Holiday Showcase last week.

The Cardinals fell to Eau Claire Memorial, 3-1, on Dec. 27. Notre Dame then toppled Middleton, 5-1, on Dec. 28.

The Cardinals finished the tournament on a high, though, and defeated Wausau West, 6-4, on Dec. 29.

Middleton is now 7-6 overall this season.

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s week:

• Eau Claire Memorial 3, Middleton 1 — The Cardinals fell behind, 3-0, and couldn’t rally back.

Eli Covey had a shorthanded goal for Middleton midway through the third quarter that pulled the Cardinals within 3-1.

Heuer Stutz had 28 saves in goal for Middleton.

• Green Bay Notre Dame 5, Middleton 1 — The Tritons exploded for five second period goals and rolled past the Cardinals.

Wyatt Ehrhardt had a third period goal for Middleton on an assist from Matt Sanger.

Middleton’s wrestlers finished in 10^th place out of 16 teams at the Northern Badger Wrestling Classic on Dec. 28-29.

Menomonie won the event with 315.5 points, while Freedom (285.0), St. Croix Central (270), Hayward (184) and Baldwin-Woodville (174) rounded out the top five.

Middleton finished with 125.5 points.

Here’s how the Cardinals fared at each weight class:

106 — Tavish Frank (7-9) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Michael Sirek (Rice Lake) 15-8 won by fall over Frank (Fall 1:01)
• Cons. Round 1 - Frank won by decision over Wyatt Christianson (Spooner/Webster) 0-4 (Dec 11-8)
• Cons. Round 2 - Luke Moen (Turtle Lake/Clayton) 12-8 won by fall over Frank (Fall 1:53)

126 — Grady Hargrove (6-9) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Middleton athletics have been a force for decades now. What happened in 2023, though, in unprecedented.

The Cardinals won four WIAA Division 1 state championships — in both boys and girls swimming, boys soccer and boys volleyball. That’s the most state titles the school has ever held at one time.

As the calendar turns, we rank the 12 most impressive achievements of the year (one for each month).

We’ll look at No. 7-12 this week and No. 1-6 next week.

7. Baseball team full of surprises

Of all the terrific Middleton baseball teams in recent years — and there have been plenty — this wasn’t the one expected to break the drought.

There was just one starter back from the 2022 team that reached the sectional semifinals. There were no proven commodities on the mound. And as skipper Brent Jorgensen examined his roster back in March, he was left with a bevy of questions and very few answers.