Sports

Shay Haase finished on the podium at the WIAA Division 1 individual state wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center last Saturday night.

That accomplished one of the goals for Middleton’s 152-pound junior this season.

However, Haase was dealt a bitter reminder that there is still a lot of work remaining to accomplish his goal of becoming the Cardinals’ next state champion after he got off to a stellar start in his second straight state tournament appearance.

“It felt good to be on the podium, but at the same time I was disappointed because I knew I could have done better and placed higher in the tournament,” said Haase, who placed sixth this season after losing his only match a year ago. “Next year I’m planning all offseason to be on top of the stage.”

Ryan Groy always thought this was possible.

From the days he was the biggest kid at Sunset Ridge to his time dominating defensive linemen while at Middleton High School. Groy always believed his eventual landing spot would be in the National Football League.

Now, that day is getting closer.

Groy, who recently completed his senior season at the University of Wisconsin, took his show to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week. There, he did all he could to show scouts he could be the latest in a long line of great UW linemen.

“I've loved (football) since I was in fourth grade,” said Groy, a 2009 graduate of MHS. “It's been my life since then and it's everything it is now. You go to bed and wake up thinking about football and it's never really changed.”

A year after coming within a split-second of qualifying for state, Hans Kunsch had a state meet to remember.

The Middleton senior not only qualified for state, but made the podium to propel Middleton’s boys swimming team to a ninth-place tie at the WIAA Division 1 state boys’ swim meet held at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium last Saturday.

“Last year I missed the cut by 1/100^th of a second, so pretty much as close as you can get to going to state,” Kunsch said. “This year, I couldn’t let that happen again so I trained as hard as I can, went to every practice, didn’t miss one this year actually, and was really happy.”

Kunsch placed fifth in the 100-yard backstroke in 53.20 seconds and was also part of the near record-setting 200 medley relay team, which included senior Lars Haskins and juniors Rory Slattery and Lex Peterson. The foursome placed third in the event in 1:36.08, just .02 off the Middleton school record.

Shay Haase’s goal hasn't changed.

What is different is that’s Middleton’s standout junior wrestler is far closer to achieving his ultimate objective.

Haase finished in first place at 152 pounds during last Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 WIAA Division 1 Waunakee Sectional. Haase now advances to the state meet, which runs Thursday through Saturday at the UW Kohl Center.

“My goal has been the same since the start of the season,” Haase said. “And that's been to be standing on the podium on Saturday.”

Middleton senior Nathan Dresen finished second at sectionals and also qualified for state. The Cardinals’ other 10 sectional qualifiers failed to earn a trip to state.

“The one thing about sectionals is it’s the will and the want,” Weiler said. “It’s a lot of emotions. Emotions are running so high all day long, and at the end of it all, you just hope to have a couple of kids still standing.”

Their two-year run as Big Eight Conference champions ended last Saturday. But the last thing Middleton’s gymnasts felt was disappointment.

That’s because the Cardinals posted a season-best score of 141.60 and finished second overall. The fact Madison Memorial scored a 142.65 and won the league simply showed how strong the Big Eight is in 2014.

“I was thrilled with the team score, especially considering we counted three beam falls which totaled 1.5 points,” said Middleton coach Kari Steck, who will now take her team to the Madison Memorial Sectional Saturday. “I don't think the girls were really focused on scores, which makes a huge difference in performance. They seemed calm and ready to have fun.

“I think Saturday was a great ‘trial round’ for sectionals, where we hope to beat Madison Memorial. Memorial is strong this year, but the girls know that they are stronger, and more consistent.”

There’s nothing quite like ‘Senior Night.’

It’s the end of an era. Emotions are high.

And victory is imperative.

Middleton’s boys basketball team made their ‘Senior Night’ a memorable one last Tuesday with a 61-43 non-conference win over Waunakee. The Cardinals improved to 12-9 overall, while the Warriors fell to 3-17.

With eight seniors on the team — and an entire starting lineup consisting of seniors — the night was unforgettable for Middleton.

“ ‘Senior Night’ is always special and this is as talented and dedicated group as I've had, as well as one of the most enjoyable to be around day in and day out,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “I'm happy for them to be able to get the ‘W’ on Senior Night, but more importantly we'd like to have them keep their final season of Cardinal Basketball alive for the next few weeks as we enter tournament play.”

There were many signs to suggest that’s possible.

Middleton and Madison La Follette’s boys basketball teams played a pair of nailbiters this season.

The third meeting promises to be much of the same — only the stakes are much higher.

The Cardinals and Lancers — who split their two regular season meetings — meet in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal Friday at 7 p.m. in Middleton. The Cardinals are seeded third in the regional, while the Lancers are the No. 6 seed.

The winner will advance to a regional final Saturday at 7 p.m., which most likely will be against second-seeded Sun Prairie.

La Follette came to Middleton and won the first meeting, 71-64, in the season opener for both teams. The Lancers outscored the Cardinals, 28-18, in the third quarter that night.

But Middleton rebounded to win at La Follette, 57-55, on Jan. 14. Cardinals senior Max Oelerich had 15 points and eight rebounds in the second game, and Middleton made nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to prevail.

They had made solid gains in the past month.

They were optimistic that a surprising postseason run was certainly possible.

And for much of last Thursday’s WIAA regional final, it appeared Middleton’s hockey team was poised to surprise Madison West. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Cardinals’ season came to a crushing halt.

West freshman forward Mick Messner scored in the second overtime and propelled the Regents to a 3-2 win. The Cardinals finished the season 10-12-2.

Middleton dropped a pair of games to Madison West during the regular season, including a 5-0 decision just two weeks ago. But this game was far more competitive.

“I think there were a couple key changes,” Middleton interim coach Steffon Walby said. “We were able to watch video from our previous game and then practice what we learned. The second key component is the energy from the bench and the huge positivity and team confidence coming from within.”

Middleton’s hockey season came to an abrupt end last Thursday, with a 3-2 overtime loss to Madison West in a WIAA Regional final.

Now, Cardinals athletic director Bob Joers will turn the page to next year.

Steffon Walby just finished a five-week stint as Middleton’s interim head coach. And once the hockey postseason ends on March 8, Joers will begin the search for the Cardinals’ next head coach.

“I think it’s a really good job,” Joers said. “I’m expecting a lot of people to apply.”

Tony and Steve Libert, who helped make Middleton’s program a state power in their 21 years as co-coaches, were dismissed on Jan. 17 following a locker-room incident. Walby, a former player and coach in five different minor professional leagues, was brought in to a tough situation and did an admirable job.

Middleton finished the year 4-5-1 with Walby in charge. The Cardinals then won their playoff opener before falling to Madison West.

Middleton’s girls basketball team received the No. 1 seed in its regional at Sunday’s postseason meeting.

Middleton is 18-3 overall and 16-1 in the Big Eight Conference. The Cardinals have already clinched a share of their seventh league championship in eight years, and can win the conference outright when they host Madison Memorial Thursday.

Verona is the No. 2 seed in the regional, followed by Madison La Follette, Sun Prairie, Oconomowoc, Madison Memorial, Madison West, Madison East and Watertown.

Middleton will open the postseason March 7 when they host a regional semifinal against either Madison East or Watertown. If the Cardinals win there, they’ll host either Sun Prairie or Oconomowoc in a regional final on March 8.

The sectional semifinals are March 13 at Madison Memorial and the sectional finals are March 15 in Sun Prairie.

The WIAA Division 1 state tournament will be held March 21 and 22 at the Resch Center in Green Bay.