Cove DECA students make top 3 in world contest

Special to Leader-Press

ANAHEIM, CA— There was a lot on the line for the DECA chapter of Copperas Cove High School as there is a reputation to uphold. The award-winning organization sent 27 state winners to the international contest this past weekend in sunny Anaheim, California, to compete against roughly 19,000 competitors at the 2017 International Career Development Conference.  The question was, could they top themselves this year or even do as well as prior years?  
Among those 27 students, five made it into the second round of competition including Ashley Wilson and Chase Thomas of the Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research Event as well as Marcus McCrea, Kyle Wall, and Gabe Williams of the Sports and Entertainment Operations Research Event. Ultimately, the team of McCrea, Wall and Williams stepped up on the platform to receive their third place trophy, making CCHS DECA history.   
“Once on stage, we knew what was on the line of being the first group to ever return from ICDC with DECA glass, so the nerves were definitely there! So once our names were called, it was relief and excitement that came over us,” Wall said. “I believe with this group of Marcus, Gabe, and me, we could take on any obstacle that was thrown in front of us.”
The two other members of the winning trio likened the experience to their time on the field. 
“It all seemed too good to be true to be the first group to ever bring home the first international trophy to Copperas Cove High School DECA, but it was long overdue and it couldn’t have been done without the help from my team members, Charlotte Heinze, CCHS DECA Adviser, Kim Wilson, CCHS DECA Parent Group President and a few others,” Williams said. “This experience was one that I will never forget, more challenging than on the football field.” 
“This experience was very different than being on the football field. In DECA, it is all up to the judge we present in front of, whereas on the field, we as a team have some control of the outcome, McCrea said. “This experience taught me how to step up, take the challenge and succeed.”
Of the 1,050 Texas DECA competitors in the written event categories, only seven teams from Texas made the top ten. Of those ten, only two from Texas—one being CCHS--made top three.  
“Although competing at the Texas State Development Conference is very exciting and rewarding for all the competitors, the experience that all the CCHS DECA students built by furthering their competition at the International Career Development Conference is something they will remember for the rest of their lives.” Heinze said.