Sports

SUN PRAIRIE — Time was running out on Middleton’s dream season when brothers Roan and Arjay Johnson stepped forward to etch their names in state lacrosse history.

The Johnson brothers rallied the Cardinals from a one-goal deficit with 1 minute, 27 seconds to play with a pair of goals, and Middleton defeated Neenah 7-6 at the Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s a dream come true, really,” said Roan, a 5-foot-11, 157-pound sophomore midfielder. “Just growing up in the back yard with (Arjay) and playing catch, shooting the ball in the net. You just dream about moments like this, and it’s finally here. It’s so cool.”

Added Arjay, a 6-1, 245-pound junior attacker: “It’s history. It’s the first WIAA state lacrosse championship. It’s awesome that I’m a part of it and was able to be part of it with my brother.”

Middleton’s basketball program has produced a steady stream of college players in recent years.

The Cardinals have never sent anyone straight from high school into a Power 5 conference, though.

Will Garlock has changed all of that.

Garlock, a 6-foot-11, senior-to be at MHS, gave a verbal commitment to the University of Wisconsin Thursday night and made his decision official Saturday.

“I’m really proud,” Garlock said Saturday afternoon. “I just felt really good about the coaching staff and the players. I built great relationships with them and just felt like it was the best place for me.”

Garlock said his final choices were Wisconsin and Iowa. Virginia Tech and Minnesota were also in his final four.

Garlock becomes the first player from the Big Eight Conference to go from high school to a Power 5 Conference (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC) since Nick Fuller of Sun Prairie headed to Nebraska in 2013.

KOHLER — All signs pointed to greatness.

Middleton’s boys golfers had strung together a month of terrific play.

A Big Eight Conference title, along with regional and sectional championships had been achieved.

So after Middleton senior Dain Johnson finished the final hole of his stellar prep career late Tuesday — and reflected on the Cardinals’ seventh place finish at the WIAA Division 1 state meet held at Blackwolf Run — the MHS standout couldn’t help but be a little bummed.

“I think we’ll be a little disappointed because we always want to go out and win every single thing we play in,” Johnson said “But it’s nothing to be upset about. We had a phenomenal year and the team’s going to be so good for the next couple of years. There’s nothing to be down about.”

Middleton sophomore standout Sammy Forslund agreed — for the most part.

They waited 52 weeks for this moment.

When it finally arrived, Middleton’s boys golf team wasn’t going to let it slip away.

The Cardinals shot a sizzling 301 and won the Madison Memorial Sectional held at Blackhawk Country Club on May 29. Waunakee was a distant second with a 313 and earned the second trip to state.

One year ago, Middleton tied for second place at the Waunakee Sectional, but lost a playoff to Holmen for the final state berth. So this year provided sweet redemption for the Cardinals.

“The guys had been focused on this day since last year's sectional when things didn't go particularly well for us,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalka said. “They were not about to have a repeat day. 

“Moving on to state is a great accomplishment and the guys were quite excited. Playing really well right from the start of their day, it was a pretty relaxed round of golf. What was most impressive was how smart they played.”

Long gone were the toils of a 5-6 start to the season.

It was, however, that start which eventually fueled a path for Middleton’s softball team to reach a WIAA Division 1 sectional final against Sun Prairie East on May 30.

Middleton was undoubtedly ready for the challenge against top-seeded and eighth-ranked East.

But after taking an early 2-0 lead, Middleton’s bats went quiet and East battled back to eventually post a 3-2 win at Firefighters Memorial Park.

Like that, third-seeded Middleton’s (18-10) postseason run came to a close. But not before the program’s first trip to the sectional finals since 2009.

“We put Middleton back on the map,” head coach Brittany Carl said. “We haven’t played in a sectional final game in years. So for this group to bring it back is a legacy they’ll leave.”

Middleton never stopped doubting itself, despite the wins being hard to come by earlier this spring.

The six seniors on Middleton’s girls soccer team will never forget the date June 1, 2024.

First, the Cardinals’ ‘Super Six’ took part in Middleton’s graduation that afternoon. Then, they helped MHS defeat one of its biggest rivals on the pitch with a thrilling 1-0 win over visiting Verona in a WIAA Division 1 regional final.

Freshman Trinnity Wyttenbach scored the game’s only goal in the first overtime, converting a pass from fellow freshman Brooke Lister.

Middleton, the No. 4 seed in its sectional, improved to 13-3-3 and travels to No. 1-seeded Kettle Moraine (13-0-3) for a sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. If the Cardinals win there, they’d host a sectional final Saturday at 7 p.m. against either second-seeded Madison West or third-seeded Waunakee.

MADISON — The Bo brothers both had byes in the opening round of the WIAA Division 1 individual state tennis tournament at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on May 30.

Both Middleton standouts then won in the round of 32 later that day, and they each ripped off a pair of wins on May 31 to reach the state semifinals.

Along the way, Ethan Bo, a junior, and Alexander Bo, a sophomore, didn’t have much time to pay attention to how the other was doing, at least not specifically.

“I actually have never watched Alex at all in this entire tournament,” Ethan said after the quarterfinals. “I know he’s played good out there. The scores look pretty good.”

The brothers were on a collision course, though, which eventually saw them meet in the third place match.

Middleton and Reedsburg engaged in a pitcher’s duel Sunday afternoon.

Fortunately for the 29ers, they had Brady Schmitt and Drew Farrell on their side.

Schmitt hurled six strong innings and Farrell threw the last three to lead Middleton to a 3-2 win in Home Talent League action.

The 29ers improved to 2-1 on the young season.

“Both teams’ pitchers threw really well,” Middleton manager Jacob Ross said.

That’s for sure.

Schmitt struck out seven while allowing just four hits and two runs in his six innings of work. Farrell allowed just one hit and struck out three in the final three frames.
Middleton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Stephen Paulsen walked and scored on an RBI double by Andrew Zimmerman. The 29ers extended their advantage to 2-0 in the third when Easton Zempel doubled and later scored on an RBI single by Hayden Hellenbrand.

Middleton’s sent several athletes to the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet last weekend at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse.

And while the Cardinals didn't land any podium finishers (top-six) d, they did have a productive two days at state.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ performances:

GIRLS

• Middleton finished in 40^th place overall with four points. Arrowhead won the team title with 67 points.

• Sophomore Olivia Chellevold was seventh in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11 minutes, 6.36 seconds. Muskego’s Ella Anschutz won the race in 10:35.26.

• Junior Kara Meeteer was seventh in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 4.25 inches. Homestead’s Anisa Barnett was first with a jump of 19-8.

• Middleton’s 800-meter relay team of senior Samara Bradtke, freshman Haley Jodlowski, sophomore Noel Neuser and Meeteer was 16^th.

Megan Button was tremendous — again.

Mack Heinz had the defensive play of the season.

And Middleton’s bats heated up at the perfect time.

The result was the biggest win of the Brittany Carl-era, as the Cardinals defeated host Tomah, 4-1, in a WIAA Division 1 softball sectional semifinal on May 29.

Middleton, the No. 3 seed in the sectional, improved to 18-9 on the year and reached its first sectional final during Carl’s four seasons. It was also Middleton’s first trip to the sectional finals since 2009.

Tomah, which was the No. 2 seed in the sectional, finished the year 20-5.

“We wanted Tomah from the start,” Carl said. “I think a lot of coaches looked at our record versus theirs and automatically assumed they were the better team, not realizing that almost every single one of our losses came against top-10 opponents.