Cape High business students dominate state competition

Cape High business club students dominated state competition Feb. 6, netting 34 medals and sweeping all state club officer positions.

Cape DECA President Emily Racz was elected state DECA president for the 2020-21 school year. A first-time competitor last year, she said this year she had much more responsibility.

“I’m leading them, so if they fail, I fail, so I put them before myself,” Racz said. “But they did good, and I did, too.”

In competition, Emily and Molly Hudecheck proposed a pop-up Halloween store that uses a year-round app for customers to enter costumes they want to buy - an idea that won first place. 

Molly also designed a pin that was selected for use by all Delaware high school chapters to trade with other teams in international competition, set for April 29-May 2 in Nashville.

“It’s so nice when everyone you helped coach does well,” Molly said. “We’re a force to be reckoned with.”

Gabriel Martinez, advisor for Cape’s chapter of the Distributed Education Clubs of America, said of the 34 medalists, 22 were first-time competitors. A total of 43 Cape students entered the DECA competition in Dover.

Membership in Cape’s DECA club has grown from 12 students three years ago to 106 in 2019-20. Cape High business teacher Sharon Elzey attributes increased interest to Martinez, who was just named Cape High Teacher of the Year.

“I pump it up to Gabe,” Elzey said. “It’s not a new club; it’s been here since I’ve been here. Because of his enthusiasm, he’s the draw for students. We’ve never had this explosion of kids participating. He’s done a tremendous job recruiting students and getting them excited about it.”

Martinez says students are responsible for the club’s success.

“They have taken ownership of the club,” he said. “They do all the planning, organize meetings, do the fundraising. I’m just here in an advisory role. It’s a student-run organization to the hilt.”

Students say the club pushes them outside their comfort zones and boosts their confidence, giving them experience in solving real-world problems and networking opportunities.

First-place medalist Dylan Roberts said he plans to study physics or computer science in college.

“I’m doing DECA not because I’m going into business, but because it’s helping me develop life skills and public speaking while I learn how the business environment works,” Dylan said.

Novice competitors were able to count on senior Sammi Mason, known as Club Mom, and state Vice President Nayelis Navarro. Nayelis said she helped new students campaign for leadership positions, coaching them on selling themselves and calming their jitters.

As the club’s longest-serving member, Sammi said she helped show everyone the ropes. 

“I even have a mom bag with anything we might need,” Sammi said. “I’m going to study geology, and would like to start my own business when I'm older. As a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Mr. Martinez convinced me to join the club.” 

First-year competitor Jordan Winkfield said he wasn’t even expecting to place; he earned a first-place medal. 

“I’m so glad I was pushed into this by Mr. Martinez and Ms. Elzey,” he said.

Freshman Austin Futty said Mariner’s Business Professionals of America club helped prepare him for Cape DECA; he won first place.

Sophomore Dion Johnson, competing for the first time, said he didn’t know what to expect; he earned a third-place medal.

“I had a lot of nerves, for no reason apparently,” he said. “Mr. Martinez sold the club; he told me I might as well try new things. Some friends were in it, so I thought I might as well join. It’s been a great time and experience.”

Martinez said he was proud of the amount of effort students devoted to preparing for competition.

“An added bonus is how close the group has become,” Martinez said. “They’re making friends they would’ve otherwise not known. They spend a lot of time together outside the club, finding things they have in common and just enjoying each other’s company.”

Cape High Medalists

First place 
Cole Schellenberger, entrepreneurship
Austin Futty, principles of marketing
Molly Hudecheck and Emily Racz, buying and merchandising team decision making
Cara Thomas, independent business plan
Jonathan Capparell and Sammi Mason, marketing management team decision making
Mark McNaught and Blaine Davis, entrepreneurship team decision making
Riley Roberts and Ishika Gupta, travel and tourism team decision making
Griffin Joseph, business services marketing
Jordan Winkfield, business finance
Josh Turek, principles of hospitality and tourism
Zachary Burris, personal financial literacy
Dylan Roberts, human resources management

Second place 
Justin McGregor and Rahul C. Patel, financial services team decision making
Nayelis Navarro, personal financial literacy 
Cay’La Laws and Jenna Fitzgerald, integrated marketing campaign
Breahna Kusen and Rebecca Wood, hospitality services team decision making
Christian Armstrong, automotive services marketing
Talia Liburdi, human resources management

Third place 
Quinn Peery, entrepreneurship
Austin Rhue and Mackinzie Brown, sports and entertainment marketing team decision making
Joshua Martinez, sports and entertainment marketing
Dion Johnson, restaurant and food services management
Aya Daisey and Heidi Simmons, marketing management team decision making
Mizarah Jean and Emily Drumheller, travel and tourism team decision making

National virtual business competition
Sammi Mason, first in Delaware, fashion retail 
Aiden Rezac, first in Delaware, round one, sports entertainment 
Blaine Davis, Mark McNaught and Christian Armstrong, first in Delaware, round two, sports entertainment
Zachary Burris, Rahul Patel and Andrew Garcia, first in Delaware, personal finance
Heidi Simmons and Dylan Roberts, first in Delaware, retail