DECA students move on to states

Last Friday, 39 Gloucester High School DECA students competed in the district competition, held at Endicott College.

Of the 39 students that competed, 20 will be moving on to the state competition at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston which is set to take place March 9-11.  

Students were able to compete in team categories, such as team decision making events or in a solo category, such as professional selling. This year, the top four competitors from each category moved on to the state competition. Last year, only the top three were able to move on.

GHS is part of district 6, which is made up of Beverly, Rockport, Triton, Swampscott, Manchester Essex, and, new to DECA, Ipswich and Madison Park high schools.

While Gloucester may have sent nearly 40 students to the competition, it has not always been this way. Gloucester is usually considered small compared to the other schools that compete at the district level.

“I think it’s on the high end of what I have had in the past,” said Ann Grassetti, Gloucester High School’s DECA advisor. “It’s high up there for one of the best years for DECA, especially with not as many upperclassmen.”

These 20 students that will be moving on are: Seniors Brianna Fernandes, Tyler Parisi, Jacob Belcher, Kyle Aquipel, Ryan Gabrielle, and Makenzie Lovasco. Juniors Elizabeth Luster, Zoe Venetsanakos, Rosie Giambanco, Emily Kenyon, Baylee Kirk, Chris Macdonald, and Emilie Orlando. Sophomores Ruby Melvin, Delaney Benchoff, Victoria Carini, Dakota Girard, Maria Karol, Lucas Melanson, and Peter Russo.

“I’m pumped, I’m ready to try to go onto nationals,” said senior Ryan Gabriele who competed in the Sports Marketing and Entertainment- Individual participant category. “I’m going to work hard and do as many practice studies as I can and hopefully place.”