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Pipestone Area Schools seniors Vivian Brockberg and Cayden Zephier both have been nominated for the Triple-A Award.
The Minnesota State High School League celebrates academics, the arts and athletics through this Triple-A award.
Students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, and participate in both league-sponsored athletics and fine arts activities.
Every year, PAS is afforded the opportunity to nominate one male and one female senior in academic standing.
Both Zephier and Brockberg also must complete with MSHSL’s Student Code of Responsibilities, per information gleaned on the league’s website.
Vivian Brockberg will attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where her mother, Kristen, attended and graduated from college. (Contributed photo from Pipestone Area Schools)
“I am very grateful to be recognized for this award, and glad my efforts have paid off,” Zephier said in an email to the Pipestone County Star.
Brockberg also responded via email.
“It is a great honor to represent Pipestone with the Triple-A award,” she said. “There are many talented students in the community. To be selected to represent our student body is a great honor.”
Two award finalists from each region will be invited to a recognition banquet in March, with league officials announcing four statewide winners at such time.
All 32 finalists will participate in an on-court ceremony during the Class AAA boys basketball championship game at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis — scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26.
PAS will recognize both Zephier and Brockberg during a special ceremony between the girls and boys basketball games versus Fairmont on Friday, Jan. 30, activities director Rick Zollner reported.
Cayden Zephier has reported he will attend Iowa State University. (Contributed photo from Pipestone Area Schools)
Brockberg lends her talent as a soprano in the choir and large group ensemble, and she’s been involved in vocal music for four years.
“I have to cooperate with other people, and it takes dedication and practice,” Brockberg said regarding the relationship between music and sports as a multi-sport athlete. “You have to be able to work as a team and be a team player.”
Both Zephier and Brockberg have been involved in advanced placement (AP) and post-secondary enrollment option (PSEO) courses.
Zephier has taken physics, public speaking and composition, the last a college-level course.
“These classes have taught me discipline and accountability,” Zephier said. “I had to put in extra work in order to complete these courses with a good grade.”
Brockberg also has enrolled in demanding classes, including sociology, psychology, college-level algebra and more.
“I am taking advanced chemistry through the school, which also is a college credit,” she said. “The online classes force me to be independent. They have taught me to take good notes and stay on top of my work. The classes are challenging, and they force me to use higher-level thinking skills.”
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg putts during a dual match at Windom Country Club in spring of 2025. Brockberg became a first-time state qualifier in golf last year. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
Zephier and Brockberg both understand the importance of being well-rounded students.
“Being involved in three sports definitely isn’t easy at times,” said Zephier, who plays football and basketball and was a state track and field qualifier twice, including in the sprints during the 2024 campaign.
“I love being part of a team,” Zephier continued. “I love being part of a team. Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships that I most likely wouldn’t have made without participating in sports.”
Playing sports has benefited Zephier both physically and mentally. Zephier said participating in track and field has challenged his mental toughness.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Cayden Zephier (right) races down the track at Paulsen Field in a home meet during the 2025 season. Zephier is a two-time state qualifier in track and field, specializing in the sprinting events. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
“You have to push yourself, and you can’t rely on teammates,” he said.
Brockberg will leave PAS as a six-time letterwinner in gymnastics (an all-conference and all-state selection twice), and five-time letterwinner in golf (qualifying for state in 2025) and girls tennis (three times an all-Big South Conference selection, section doubles champion and state qualifier twice with doubles partners Alicia Haack and Jasmine Boeke). She also participated in cheerleading one year.
Zephier has lettered in basketball three times, six times in track and field, a four-time letterwinner in football (named to the all-district team twice) and one year participated in choir and large group ensemble.
Brockberg has reported she will attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth where she will study exercise science and psychology with the hopes of pursuing a master’s degree in sports psychology. However, she still hasn’t ruled out a job in the medical field.
Zephier said he hasn’t committed fully to an official major, but he’s leaning toward studying exercise science at Iowa State University in Ames.
Pipestone Area Schools’ student-athlete Naomi Wallace reacts during a send-off in her honor for being a Triple ‘A’ recipient — with this photo captured on Friday, March 22, in the school’s Commons. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Last year’s Triple-A nominees were Kaitlyn Goelz and Makhi Winter. Former Arrow gymnast Naomi Wallace was a state finalist during the 2023-24 academic calendar year, and Lucas Zupp also was a PAS designee.
Minnesota State High School League. (Contributed graphic from MSHSL)