By,
Rob Reischel
Middleton Times-Tribune
Kurt Gundlach realized not everyone would be happy.
That a third place Big Eight Conference finish would be labeled a disappointment by some. That a second round playoff defeat would be called a failure by others.
So immediately after his Middleton Cardinals dropped a 42-21 decision to Waukesha West in a WIAA Division 1 Level 2 playoff game Saturday, he summoned his seniors. And he had a rather simple message.
''I just told them thanks and that they did a great job for us,'' Gundlach said. ''There were a lot of outward expectations from the public and the community and the school and some may have considered our year disappointing.
''Well I don't and I wanted to tell them that. And it's important that they walked out of here with no regrets.''
They certainly had no reason for any.
Middleton's 27-member senior class enjoyed a year that most schools would dream of. The Cardinals went 8-3 overall, finished 6-2 in the incredibly competitive Big Eight Conference and were one of just 16 Division 1 teams still playing last weekend.
But their greatest sin ‹ if they had one ‹ was they weren't the 1999 team. That group rolled through an undefeated regular season, went 12-1 overall and reached the state semifinals.
So the shoes waiting for the 2000 Cardinals to fill were enormous. And that, Gundlach said, wasn't right.
''In a way, that's a compliment,'' Gundlach said. ''That people have that type of respect for your program, that they expect that kind of year again.
''But on the other hand, that's unfair. Because these kids did a lot of great things all year and have no reason to hang their heads.''
Those great things included leading the Big Eight Conference in scoring offense. Leading the league in scoring defense. And winning a first-round playoff game at Muskego.
The seniors who were part of last year's success will also leave Middleton with a 20-4 record as varsity players, the best two-year stint by a senior class since the 1988-89 group went 20-3.
''They should have a great sense of pride in what they did,'' Gundlach said. ''They were a very successful bunch.''
Along the way, several seniors left Middleton fans with memories to last a lifetime.
Who will forget quarterback Jeremy Ziegler's pinpoint accuracy, his rifle right arm and his crafty footwork? The elusiveness, speed amd power of tailback Matt Meinholz and the return exploits of Michael Morris? Or how about the fire and heart of linebackers Kevin Buechner and Shawn Devitt?
''People will always look at the if's and but's,'' Gundlach said. ''But that's not fair.
''I have real strong feelings about this group and they shouldn't have to feel bad about their year. They did some great things in this program.''
Which is why they should be remembered as winners and nothing else.