Sports

Middleton High School football coach Jason Pertzborn resigned Thursday citing personal reasons. Pertzborn, who was also a Business Education teacher at MHS, resigned from that position, as well.

The Middleton-Cross Plains School Board unanimously approved both resignations.

Pertzborn had been placed on administrative leave last week following an incident of alleged harassment within the school’s football program. That incident of misconduct — which took place more than two weeks ago — is being investigated by the Middleton Police Department and the school district.

No arrests have been made at this time.

“We are investigating allegations regarding student-to-student conduct within our football program,” said Shannon Valladolid, district director of information and public relations.

In the long and storied history of Middleton’s boys basketball program, the Cardinals never had a team begin a season 15-0.

That all changed on Jan. 26.

Middleton rolled past host Sun Prairie East, 73-48, and improved its record to a perfect 15-0 for the first time in school history. The Cardinals also moved to 12-0 in the Big Eight Conference and maintained their four-game lead over three other teams in the race for the league title.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Middleton senior point guard Gavyn Hurley said.

Middleton had lots of fun against Sun Prairie East, which fell to 3-13, 2-12.

Hurley led Middleton with 16 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, while senior wing Kaden Fosdick added nine points, four rebounds and four assists. Senior guard Will Comerford had nine points and three assists, while senior forward Owen Cooney had eight points and four rebounds.

Goal No. 1 is in the books.

And this novel seemingly has several terrific chapters remaining.

Middleton’s boys swimming and diving team won the Big Eight Conference regular season title last Friday by cruising to a win at its own triangular. Middleton defeated Janesville Craig, 133-24, and toppled Sun Prairie East, 118-52.

Those wins helped Middleton win the conference’s regular season title with a 9-0 dual meet record.

“The meet went well,” Middleton coach Wes Lagerhausen said. “Having some of our boys finish up their season at the meet, it was great to see them end on a high note. Lots of best times and fun races. The energy was high and the pool was full of spectators.”

Middleton’s foursome of Jack Madoch, Sam Wolf, Theo Wolf and Nick Chirafisi won the 200-yard medley relay, while the Cardinals’ quartet of Max Carter, Ban Cutler Heiderscheit, Caden Van Buren and Jack Madigan was second.

Middleton’s wrestlers finished third at the nine-team Markesan Invite last Saturday.

Markesan won the tournament with 204.0 points, while Omro (177.5), Middleton (171.5), Tomahawk (154.0) and Westby (131.0) rounded out the top five.

Middleton got second place finishes from Reese Miller at 126 pounds, Sam Zanton at 138 and Seth Bunn at 170 The Cardinals also got third place showings from Finn Grauwels at 145, Bryce Falk at 182, Gavynn Cooper at 220 and Adham Elshaboury at heavyweight.

Here’s a rundown of the Cardinals’ day:

106 — Tavish Frank (7-18) placed 8th and scored 3.0 team points.

Middleton’s hockey team took a body blow last Friday.

But the Cardinals rebounded a delivered a few haymakers of their own last Saturday.

Middleton fell to Verona, 6-2, on Jan. 20. But the Cardinals bounced back with a 6-2 win over Madison West on Jan. 21.

Middleton improved to 13-7 overall and stayed in second place in the Big Eight Conference at 7-3.

Here’s a recap of the Cardinals’ week:

• Verona 6, Middleton 2 — Brady Engelkes and Eli Covey had goals for the Cardinals, but it wasn’t nearly enough against the conference-leading Wildcats.

Verona scored late in the first period and midway through the second to take a 2-0 lead. Covey had a power play goal on an assist from Drew Sjowall at the 14:25 mark of the second period to pull the Cardinals within 2-1.

But Middleton failed to take advantage of several other penalty play opportunities.

Middleton’s girls gymnastics team is having a solid season.

But the Cardinals saw what the best team in the area looks like on Jan. 19.

Verona/Madison Edgewood came to Middleton and toppled the Cardinals, 143.325-124.825.

“I know that my girls have been working incredibly hard at practice,” Middleton coach Alexis Lindahl said. “But I feel like my girls got too ‘in their heads.’ ”

Middleton’s top performance came from Kenavan Lindner, who was third on the uneven bars with a 7.850. Ana Bollig was fifth on the vault (8.50), while Eva Szczepanski was sixth on the beam (8.275) and sixth on the bars (7.725), and Jaelynn Kemp was sixth on the floor (8.0).

“At this point in the season, every team is unveiling new skills that they hadn't competed in the beginning of the season,” Lindahl said. “Nonetheless, my girls have been progressing in their routines, too.

Twelve months ago, Will Garlock was like a baby fawn.

Nothing came easy. With each step forward, he’d stumble and fall. And Garlock’s impact on Middleton’s boys basketball team was minimal, at best.

Today, Garlock is well on his way to becoming one of the top players in Wisconsin and someone coveted by colleges near and far.

During Middleton’s game against Benilde-St. Margaret’s at the Wisconsin-Minnesota Border Battle last Saturday, Garlock was the best player on the floor. The 6-foot-10 Garlock poured in a game-high 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and led the Cardinals past the Red Knights, 51-47, in a game held at Prescott High School.

Middleton, ranked second in the latest WIAA Division 1 Associated Press poll, improved to 14-0. That matches the Cardinals’ best start in at least 30 years.

Will Garlock wasn’t quiet in the first half last Thursday night against Madison Memorial. But the big man on the Middleton boys basketball team wasn’t loud, either, mustering five points on a free throw and a pair of field goals.

He left a much bigger imprint on the game in the second half.

The 6-foot-10 sophomore scored on the very first possession after halftime to stretch the Cardinals’ lead to seven points, and he would add a dozen more points over the final 17 minutes, 50 seconds to finish with 19 on the night and leading Middleton to a 60-51, Big Eight Conference victory over the rival Spartans.

“Coming out of the break they drew up a little ‘shake’ action for me and I got that lay-up, and then from there it built momentum for the whole team and for me to get stops and score on the other end,” Garlock said of the play that gave MHS a 32-25 lead.

Janesville Craig shoots 3-pointers as well — if not better — than any team in the Big Eight Conference.

The Cougars have hit as many as 18 triples in a game this year. And almost everyone Craig puts on the floor has the shooting range to make the 3-point shot a big part of their game.

So after visiting Middleton held the Cougars to seven 3-pointers — including just one in the second half — and toppled Craig, 61-48, on Jan. 17, the Cardinals left Janesville an extremely happy bunch.

Middleton got 12 points each from Gavyn Hurley, Owen Cooney and Will Garlock, and Kaden Fosdick added 10 as the Cardinals rolled past the Cougars. The Cardinals — who played primarily man-to-man defense against the Cougars — improved to 12-0 overall and 10-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

Gavyn Hurley pays virtually no attention to the state rankings every week.

Seriously.

“I don’t even know where we’re at,” said Hurley, a standout guard on Middleton’s boys basketball team. “I know we’re pretty high up and that’s cool. But really, it doesn’t mean anything yet.”

Hurley is right on all counts.

What it does mean, though, is that Middleton is playing sensational basketball. And it’s why the Cardinals have jumped to No. 2 in the latest Wissports.net poll.

Middleton routed Verona, 71-53, last Saturday during the Martin Luther King Big Eight Conference Showcase held at MHS. The Cardinals improved to 11-0 overall and are 9-0 in the Big Eight Conference, which gives them a three-game lead in the league over four different teams.