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Westonka DECA Advances 163 to State Competition

Westonka DECA at Districts

Click the above image for more photos of the District III DECA Conference

January 16, 2025 — Mound Westonka High School will be sending 163 students to the state DECA competition this year, following strong performances at the District III DECA Conference held Jan. 7 in Bloomington.

MWHS competes in DECA District III along with Blake, Bloomington, Breck, Edina, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Shakopee and Waconia high schools. There are 930 students in the DECA District, meaning the top 14 students in each event advance to state. MWHS was entered in 49 of the 50 events held at the district level, with 184 students competing.

Westonka DECA members advanced to state in 45 different events and placed in the Top 3 in 27 events. Westonka earned 11 first-place, 12 second-place and 12 third-place honors.

Scott Huston is in his first year serving as a MWHS DECA advisor. “My first DECA competition was beyond anything I could have imagined,” said Huston. “Witnessing all the efforts students put in over the last few months, I know how much this means to them. I'm so fortunate I got to see all their hard work pay off!"

Also at the district conference, sophomore Lizzy Nash was elected to the Minnesota DECA State Officer team for 2025-26. She will start this leadership position during the 2025 International DECA Conference. Nash said of her new role, “I'm most excited to have new opportunities to get to know other DECA members, and network with people outside of my district."

The 2025 DECA State Career Development Conference will be held March 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, where over 3,000 DECA students from across Minnesota will compete.

Participation in DECA develops leadership skills, management skills, civic consciousness, job responsibility, motivation to excel, good work habits, critical thinking and problem solving. DECA is advised by Alex Wagner, Sue Simonson, Maggie Carlson and Huston.

2025 MWHS DECA District Results

High Test Score Medals

  • Alex Rice
  • Matthew Mobagi
  • Ajay Kirmeier
  • Whitney Wellumson

Apparel and Accessories Marketing Role Play

  • Edie Hollenstein - 1st place
  • Lauren Velander - 5th place
  • Teagan Haider - 11th place
  • Allison Kreiser - 12th place
  • Bennett Courneya - 13th place

Accounting Application Series Role Play

  • Alex Rice - 1st place
  • Ruby Finck - 7th place
  • Elise Orenge - 12th place

Automotive Services  Marketing Role Play

  • Kaitlyn Lazenby - 4th place
  • Tristan Santoski - 5th place
  • Hayden Dehmer - 7th place
  • Vincent Shaw - 8th place
  • Evan Holt - 12th place
  • Jacksyn Zilka - 13th place

Business Financial Services Role Play

  • Dillon Peterson - 3rd place
  • Grace Schrempp - 4th place
  • Leon Kravchenko - 6th place
  • Caitlin Lehtola - 14th place

Business Services Marketing Role Play

  • Ajay Kirmeier - 1st place
  • Luke Sunnarborg - 5th place
  • Addie Bryan - 10th place
  • Oliver Berg - 11th place
  • Alexandra Gombola - 12th place
  • Mady Petersen - 13th place

Entrepreneurship  Role Play

  • Lizzy Nash - 6th place
  • Sophia Stanberry - 7th place
  • Sydney Reier - 9th place
  • Isabella Larsen - 12th place
  • Gavin Ruegemer - 13th place
  • Jake Berg - 14th place

Food Marketing Role Play

  • Stella Miner - 1st place
  • Tor Erdahl - 3rd place
  • Lily Titler - 10th place
  • Lexie Morris - 11th place
  • Brielle Gilbertson - 12th place
  • Evelyn Hendrycks - 14th place

Hotel and Lodging Management Role Play

  • Sky Nienaber - 1st place
  • Anna Borg - 3rd place
  • Paige Johnson - 9th place
  • Jacob Orenge - 12th place
  • Sydney Carlin - 13th place
  • Calvin Stickney - 14th place

Human Resources Management Role Play

  • Reagan Van Blaricon - 2nd place
  • Valerie Mobagi - 7th place
  • Brenna Vogel - 8th place
  • Amelia Kliebenstein - 11th place
  • Adele Childers - 13th place
  • Sophia Kravchenko - 14th place

Marketing Communications Role Play

  • Emma Carlson - 2nd place
  • George Petitt - 3rd place
  • Devon Simpson - 6th place
  • Will Bryan - 7th place
  • Delaney Hendrix - 8th place
  • Lily Kiner - 12th place

Personal Financial Literacy Role Play

  • Brenden Sexton - 4th place
  • Jaden Christ - 6th place
  • Noah Huesmann - 7th place

Quick Serve Restaurant Management Role Play

  • Sienna Dehmer - 2nd place
  • Henry Ruegemer - 3rd place
  • Lauren Tschimperle - 4th place
  • Leif Hagen - 5th place
  • Zoe Wood - 6th place
  • Owen Trost - 7th place
  • Luke Gustafson - 10th place
  • Elias Ottenbriet - 12th place
  • Mia Abernethy - 13th place
  • Emma Butler - 14th place

Restaurant and Food Service Management Role Play

  • August Lang - 1st place
  • Gracie O’Halloran - 4th place
  • Chloe Patterson - 9th place

Retail Merchandising Role Play

  • Elliot Lang - 5th place
  • Ellie Schaefer - 10th place
  • Kenley Trundle - 12th place
  • Norah Hollenstein - 13th place

Sports & Entertainment Role Play

  • Ali Butler - 4th place
  • Carter Pickert - 5th place
  • Sadie Cline - 7th place
  • Jaicy Hamrick - 8th place
  • Amelia Holmberg - 10th place
  • Brendan Rashleger - 13th place

Principles of Business Management and Administration Role Play

  • Oliver Kimbler - 2nd place
  • Bella Grotte - 6th place

Principles of Finance Role Play

  • Ted Owens - 7th place

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Role Play

  • Ella Anders - 7th place
  • Mary Johnson - 10th place

Business Law and Ethics Team Role Play

  • Robbie Chilson & Cal Pearson - 6th place
  • Trygg Carlson & Brody Helms - 10th place

Buying and Merchandising Team Role Play

  • Aubrey Bruckner & Claire Rashleger - 2nd place
  • Matthew Mobagi & Mason Sebasky - 6th place
  • Piper Landsman & Ellie Putnam - 12th place

Entrepreneurship Team Role Play

  • Liam Biermann & George Eberhart - 13th place

Financial Services Team Role Play

  • Lauren Russ & Jagger Wittine - 1st place
  • Isaac Aud & Gavin Roerig - 12th place
  • Audrey Kirscht & Sara Sipprell - 14th place

Hospitality Services Team Role Play

  • Addison Eaton & Whittney Wellumson - 6th place
  • Kylee Pierson & Adrianna Sullivan - 11th place

Marketing Management Team Role Play

  • Georgia Harmer & Maria Sells - 14th place

Travel and Tourism Team Role Play

  • Bette Mae Grogan & Bella Kirkpatrick - 6th place

Integrated Marketing Campaign - Event (Paper)

  • Stella Miner & Matthew Mobagi - 1st place
  • Emma Carlson & Tor Erdahl - 2nd place
  • Bette Mae Grogan, Bella Kirkpatrick & Ben Pruitt - 10th place
  • Adele Childers & Jaicy Hamrick - 11th place
  • Maria Neumann, George Pettitt & Lily Titler - 12th place

Integrated Marketing Campaign - Product (Paper)

  • Addie Bryan & Ella McClellan - 3rd place
  • Sadie Cline, Lily Kiner & Reagan Van Blaricon - 5th place
  • Bella Grotte - 7th place
  • Edie Hollenstein & Norah Hollenstein - 9th place
  • Amelia Kliebenstein & Mady Petersen - 11th place
  • Paige Johnson & Lillian Leger - 12th place

Integrated Marketing Campaign - Service (Paper)

  • Cerisa Bray & Delaney Hendrix - 1st place
  • August Lang & Elliott Lang - 4th place
  • Oliver Berg, Bennett Courneya & Quinn Wesley - 6th place
  • Gracie O’Halloran - 10th place
  • Aubrey Bruckner & Ellie Schaefer - 12th place

Start-Up Business Plan (Paper)

  • Drew Carlson, David Kalis & Gavin Lamey - 2nd place
  • Ethan Aud & Will Mitlyng - 3rd place
  • Piper Landsman, Ellie Putnam & Claire Rashleger - 4th place

Innovation Plan (Paper)

  • Lauren Velander - 2nd place
  • Ali Butler & Allison Kreiser - 3rd place
  • Julian Herkelman, Spencer Putnam & Davin Wahtola - 9th place
  • Teagan Haider & Charlotte Miller - 11th place

Franchise Business Plan (Paper)

  • Avrey Cotton & Sadie Ottenbreit - 4th place
  • Ella Anders & Mary Johnson - 10th place
  • Sky Nienaber - 12th place

Independent Business Plan (Paper)

  • Trygg Carlson, Elias Ottenbriet & Dane Sewell - 2nd place
  • Claire Buetow & Elise Orenge - 6th place
  • Stori Holt, Chloe Patterson & Kylee Pierson - 7th place
  • Aidan Huesmann & Max Wolke - 12th place

International Business Plan (Paper)

  • Luke Gustafson & Philip Van - 1st place
  • Noah Huesmann & Dillon Peterson - 3rd place
  • Addison Eaton & Whittney Wellumson - 4th place
  • Brendan Rashleger & Owen Trost - 5th place
  • Sophia Kravchenko & Lauren Russ - 12th place

Business Growth Plan (Paper)

  • Liam Biermann - 3rd place

Business Services Operations Research (Paper)

  • Mia Abernethy & Maddie Carlson - 1st place
  • Carly Durr & Jack Durr - 3rd place
  • Kaitlyn Lazenby & Devon Simpson - 4th place
  • Adrianna Sullivan - 5th place
  • Amelia Holmberg & Lillian Osterberg - 7th place
  • Sabrina Kaganovsky & Brenden Sexton - 10th place

Buying and Merchandising Operations Research (Paper)

  • Ajay Kirmeier & Madeline Witte - 6th place
  • Jake Berg & Gavin Kevitt - 7th place

Financial Operations Research (Paper)

  • Cole Drill, Jacob Orenge & Mason Sebasky - 2nd place
  • Kellan Goetz & Carter Pickert - 8th place

Hospitality & Tourism Operations Research (Paper)

  • Alex Rice & Brenna Vogel - 3rd place
  • Ruby Finck, Audrey Kirscht & Sara Sipprell - 4th place
  • Isaac Aud, George Eberhart & Gavin Roerig - 6th place

Sports & Entertainment Operations Research (Paper)

  • Georgia Harmer & Sydney Reier - 2nd place
  • Luke Sunnarborg - 6th place
  • Tyler Spotts & Grayson Van Nelson - 8th place

Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling

  • Ted Owens - 5th place
  • Luke Carlson - 7th place
  • Jordyn Garlock - 11th place

Professional Selling Event

  • Gabrielle Reitan - 3rd place
  • Oliver Kimbler - 7th place
  • Sophia Stanberry - 8th place

Financial Consulting Professional Selling 

  • Grace Schrempp - 4th place
  • Jaden Christ - 6th place
  • Caitlin Lehtola - 12th place

State-Only Events (not eligible to advance to Internationals)

Employment Interview Advanced Level

  • Anna Borg - 10th place

Sales Demonstrations Hard

  • Evan Holt - 4th place
  • Zachary Van Nelson - 10th place
  • Eli Cegla - 11th place

Sales Demonstration General

  • Leif Hagen - 6th place

Sales Demonstrations Soft

  • Maria Sells - 2nd place
  • Kylee Christ - 6th place
  • Emma Spotts - 11th place

Project Events Advancing to State

  • School-Based Enterprise Food – Claire Rashleger & Sydney Reier
  • School-Based Enterprise Retail – Georgia Harmer & Maria Sells  
  • Gold Chapter Campaign – Anna Borg & Stella Miner
  • Business Solutions Chapter Project – Edie Hollenstein, August Lang & Gracie O’Halloran
  • Career Development Chapter Project – Annika Hagen & Leif Hagen
  • Community Awareness Project – Emma Carlson, Sienna Dehmer & Val Mobagi
  • Sales Chapter Project – Addie Bryan, Allison Kreiser & Ella McClellan
  • Community Giving Chapter Project – Anna Borg & Lizzy Nash

 

Becca Neuger
neugerb@westonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 491-8003