Middleton girls soccer standouts Sophie Kasel and Adelyn Frantz were both named honorable-mention all-state by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association.

Kasel, a senior defender, was a four-year varsity player and two-year captain. She finished the year with four goals, four assists and two-game winning goals.

Kasel was an elite defender who kept Middleton’s season alive by jumping into goal and making a memorable save against Kettle Moraine during a mad scramble in the sectional semifinals. Middleton went on to win that game on penalty kicks.

“Sophie is calm, cool, collected, even when forwards are charging at her with the ball or when they are attempting to take the ball at her feet,” Middleton coach Mary Duffy said of Kasel. “I love watching how she uses body fakes and hesitation moves to get forwards to take a mis-step in their attempt to get the ball. At times it looks like there is an invisible string that connects the ball to her foot. 

Brady Schmitt and Caden Gmur shined on the hill.

Hayden Hellenbrand led an offense that pounded out 11 hits.

And Middleton’s Home Talent League team routed Plain, 9-0, on Sunday.

Middleton improved to 8-3 and is tied for second place in the Northern Section. The 29ers finish the regular season by traveling to Wisconsin Dells Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The postseason begins July 28.

In Middleton’s win over Plain, Schmitt threw five scoreless innings to pick up the win. Schmitt allowed five hits, struck out three and didn't walk a batter.

Gmur then threw the final four innings, allowing two hits, striking out two and walking two.

Hellenbrand powered the offense with three hits, including two doubles and two runs scored. Connor Smith added two hits and had an RBI, while Dylan Klock had two RBIs and scored two runs.

Middleton’s sports programs have enjoyed tremendous success for decades now.

The Cardinals took things to a new level, though, during the 2023-24 school year.

Middleton won five WIAA Division 1 state championships, which tied Hartland Arrowhead (2008-09) for the most D1 state titles in a single school year since the WIAA and WISAA merged back in 2000.

“It is so amazing to see the success stories of so many programs in our community,” Middleton boys volleyball coach Dylan Griffith said.

Griffith is spot on, which makes picking Middleton’s ‘Best of the Best’ harder than ever this year. But we’ll give it our best shot.

Last week, we honored the boys, and this week we recognize the top girls.

Team of the Year

Girls swimming

Tait Haag resisted the temptation to become a scoreboard watcher.

CROSS PLAINS — It was a day that would have made Norm Esser proud.

In a pre-game ceremony at Baer Park Sunday, the late Cross Plains resident was recognized for his contributions to the community with the dedication of the park’s refurbished shelter in his honor.

Three of Esser’s grandsons then started for Middleton, which earned a hard-fought 7-4 victory over host Cross Plains in a Northern Section Home Talent Sunday League amateur baseball game.

“I woke up and it was one of those days where you just have to sit there and think about life in general,” said Middleton shortstop Hayden Hellenbrand, one of Esser’s grandsons who played a key role in the win.

“It was pretty special with the shelter being named after my grandpa for all he did for this community and Cross Plains as a whole. To get to play in the game was pretty special. There wasn’t a better guy to have the shelter named for, but it’s also a good day when you win.”

Middleton’s Home Talent League team split a doubleheader last weekend.

The 29ers defeated Cazenovia, 12-0, in seven innings last Saturday. Middleton then dropped a 1-0 decision to Mazomanie on Sunday.

The 29ers are now 5-3 overall.

Here’s a recap of Middleton’s two games.
• Middleton 12, Cazenovia 0 (7 innings) — Brady Schmitt allowed just one hit as the 29ers rolled to a win last Saturday in a game stopped after seven innings. The game was a make-up contest from earlier this season.

Schmitt struck out six, walked just two and didn’t allow a hit until the seventh inning.

“Brady pitched fantastic,” Middleton manager Jacob Ross said. “He was efficient and was in control the entire game.”

Hunter Bindl had three hits and drove in three runs for Middleton, while Connor Manthey had two hits and a home run. Hayden Hellenbrand had two hits, including a home run, and Matt Zimmerman reached base three times.

Middleton’s sports programs have enjoyed tremendous success for decades now.

The Cardinals took things to a new level, though, during the 2023-24 school year.

Middleton won five WIAA Division 1 state championships — including four titles from the boys. That tied Hartland Arrowhead (2008-09) for the most D1 state titles in a single school year since the WIAA and WISAA merged back in 2000.

“It is so amazing to see the success stories of so many programs in our community,” Middleton boys volleyball coach Dylan Griffith said.

Griffith is spot on, which makes picking Middleton’s ‘Best of the Best’ harder than ever this year. But we’ll give it our best shot.

This week, we’ll honor the boys, and next week we’ll award the girls.

Team of the Year

Volleyball

Middleton boys soccer coach Kevin Pauls called it “amazing.”

Cardinals girls swimming coach R.J. Leiferman used terms like “exciting” and “proud.”

And MHS boys volleyball coach Dylan Griffith said he was “very happy.”

It’s easy to see why as Middleton’s athletic department made history during the 2023-24 school year.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association merged their organizations in the fall of 2000. In the time since then, Hartland Arrowhead set the record for most WIAA Division 1 state championships in one school year with five in the 2008-09 campaign.

Middleton matched that total during the 2023-24 school year, winning state titles in boys soccer, boys volleyball, girls swimming, boys swimming and boys lacrosse.

After tying Arrowhead for this historic achievement, those responsible for this remarkable feat were beaming.

They challenged for a Big Eight title before settling for second place.

They upset top-seeded Kettle Moraine in the sectional semifinals.

And they came within an eyelash of going to the state tournament for the first time in 11 years.

Middleton’s girls soccer team enjoyed a tremendous season in which it went 13-3-5 before falling to Waunakee in the sectional finals on penalty kicks.

So it was no surprise that 10 different Cardinals received all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Sophomore forward Isabel Frantz, junior midfielder Adelyn Frantz and senior defender Sophie Kasel were each named first-team all-Big Eight. Sophomore midfielder Maddie Kelm and junior defender Payton Rademacher were named second-team all-conference, while junior keeper Lydia Paulsen, freshman forward Trinnity Wyttenbach, sophomore midfielder Zoe Sharaf, senior midfielder Sam Von Ruden and junior defender Ursula Anstaett all received honorable-mention all-conference honors.

When the 2024 prep baseball season began, Middleton manager Brent Jorgensen had little idea what was in store.

Eight starters from his 2023 state qualifying team had graduated. Six of his seven all-conference players had also moved on.

So few knew what to expect from the 2024 Cardinals.

Turns out, there was nothing to fret about.

Middleton had another terrific season, going 16-10 overall, finishing in third place in the ultra-competitive Big Eight Conference and landing eight players on the all-conference team — one more than a year ago.

Junior pitcher Bennett O’Connor and senior outfielder Porter Blaha were named first-team all-conference. Junior designated hitter Ray Feinberg and senior utility player Kevin Sheehan were named second-team all-league.

They were supportive of each other.

They were terrific friends.

And they were sensational golfers.

Middleton’s version of the ‘Fab Five’ — Dain Johnson, Luke Weiss, Sammy Forslund, Reis Von Ruden and Charlie Jambor — helped the Cardinals enjoy a memorable season. And the quintet each received all-conference honors for their efforts.

Johnson, a senior, and Weiss, a sophomore, both were named first-team all-Big Eight Conference. Forslund and Von Ruden, both sophomores, along with Jambor, a senior, each received second-team all-conference honors.

Johnson also received third-team, all-state recognition from the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin, while Weiss, Forslund and Von Ruden earned honorable-mention all-state honors.

Middleton’s five standouts helped the Cardinals win the Big Eight Conference title, capture regional and sectional crowns, and finish seventh at the WIAA Division 1 state meet.