Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

The Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is an honor given on WisSports.net to the top senior boys and girls three-sport athletes in the state. Players are recognized each week on WSN, with a boys and girls winner of the Pat Richter Award at the end of the season to the best three-sport athlete of the year.

The Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is presented by the U.S. Marine Corps. The award recognizes student athletes who embody the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline across multiple sports. The mission of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Milwaukee is to find qualified men and women in Wisconsin and the surrounding area interested in becoming a United States Marine. Marines maintain the legacy of the Marine Corps by winning our nations battles and returning to their communities as quality citizens whether they are active duty or reservist. The coveted title of Marine applies only to those who graduate from the Recruit Depots or Officer Candidate School. RS Milwaukee will provide any qualified man or woman the opportunity to attend the training required to become a Marine - Enlisted or Officer.

Interested in speaking with a Marine Corps recruiter? Go to: https://rmi.marines.com/request-information/RSmilwaukee

Name: Cayden Brandenburg

High School: Janesville Parker

Class: Senior

Football Honors: First-team all-conference performer at running back in the Big Eight Conference as a senior ... Also selected to the WFCA All-Region team ... Top rusher in the Big Eight in 2023 with 1,109 yards on 152 carries ... Scored 15 touchdowns for the Vikings ... Helped Parker to a 6-4 record under coach Clayton Kreger ... Second-team all-league selection as a junior. 

Wrestling Honors: Four-time conference champion in the Big Eight ... Three-time WIAA Division 1 state qualifier ... Two-time state place winner, finishing fourth in 2023 and 2024 ... 148-15 career record ... Academic All-State selection ... Wrestler of the Year in the Big Eight as a senior.

Track & Field Honors: Three-event WIAA Division 1 state qualifier ... Finished third in the 400-meter dash ... Also qualified for state in the 200 and 1,600 relay ... School record holder in the 400 at :48.24 ... Indoor state champion in the 400 ... Voted team Most Valuable Player. 

Favorite Sport: "Football. I have grown up my whole life playing it with my friends and have had the most fun playing it."

Best Part of High School Sports: "Learning  life lessons that I will carry with me and being able to use later on in the future like hard work, resilience and team work."

Best Advice From a High School Coach: "You only get a finite amount of time so you better make each day, each rep, each step and everything count."

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "Beating Janesville Craig in football my senior year to take home 'The Rock' where I scored two touchdowns and had over 100 yards rushing."

Which Person or Persons Have Served as Positive Role Models: "First off, my parents because they have supported me through high school and the sports I have, whether it's sacrificing time to come watch me play or even making sure I am able to buy healthy foods that I need to put into my body in order to perform at a high level. Second off, coach Dye because he has played a big role in my track and field career and I would not be where I am today without him."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "It never gets old playing one of the sports because after the season, you get refreshed by playing another sport. There is less getting burned out of one the sports I play."

Most Difficult Part of Playing Three Sports: "It can be very difficult to master three different things and stay good at them every year, but it is definitely worth it."

Favorite Opponent: "Bryce Falk of Middleton in wrestling. I was able to beat him for my fourth conference title this year. That allowed me to never lose to a Big Eight opponent in my career."

Toughest Individual You've Competed Against: "The best athlete would be Andrew Reginer of Waunakee in track because he super fast and is now competing at North Carolina. The best battle would be Ben Ott of Nicolet in wrestling. I lost to him two times at state, both by one of two points."

Favorite Professional Teams: Green Bay Packers

Favorite Professional Athlete: Bobb Matthews

Favorite College Teams: LSU Tigers, Wisconsin Badgers

Cumulative GPA: 3.7

Most Admired High School Teammate: Paul Kim

College Plans: "I will be attending UW-Whitewater in the fall and possibly play sports while I will study kinesiology to one day open up my own gym."

Activities Outside of Sports: "Powerlifting, National Honor Society, DECA, Link Crew, Cargill Church volunteer. 

Favorite TV Shows: None

Favorite Movie: Interstellar

Favorite Musical Artists: Jon Pardi

Favorite Subject: History

Favorite Restaurant: Chick Fil-A, Hacienda

Favorite Website: Youtube

Other Family Members: Trevor, father; Becky, mother; Alyx, step mother; Harper, Ramsey, Scarlett, sisters.