On December 15, 2023, Arrowhead’s DECA hosted a Girls Varsity basketball game Marketing Night with doors opening at 5:30pm and a tip off at 7:00pm. 

The Warhawks played Muskego and won convincingly, 67-45. According to WISports Natalie Kussow led the team in rebounds with 9 while Presly Samz had 5 assists. 

Sophomore Natalie Kussow says, “One thing that has helped the intensity on the court is the energy in the gym, especially the bench energy. Our bench energy has been great this season so it really helps everyone perform better.”

DECA is an organization for students in high school who are interested in a career in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.  

Students who are in a marketing class—which could either be Sports Entertainment and Marketing or Marketing and Business—had to help work marketing night as a grade for the class. Members of DECA also worked the event as well.

If students are interested in joining DECA they have to be a sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled in marketing class and pay a $12.00 fee which gets participants a local and state membership. For more information students can email Marketing teacher Steve Melzer at [email protected]. 

The theme of Marketing Night was Barbie or “It’s a Barbie’s World” chosen by DECA board members. Some members of the board include President Lily Liu; VP of competitive events, Jay Hasse; VP of public relations, Marina Chen; VPs of accounting Krish Patel and Mac Bong; and VP of social media and Marketing, Alexis Arbucius.

Barbie themed shirts were designed and worn by all DECA and Marketing students to promote the game. Students were not able to purchase the shirts because they were being handed out for free at the game. 

At 6:40pm, Marketing students helped hand out the free shirts and pink sunglasses at the door to any students walking in. If students missed out on the free handouts at the doors there were more opportunities to get a shirt. 

Students of the Marketing classes at every time out and halftime did t-shirt tosses or t-shirt cannons to parents and students in the stands. Giveaways were awarded to people who participated in Barbie trivia or various activities students ran during the timeouts. 

Sophomore Libby Gilmore says, “It was great to have students there. It added a new energy and excitement to the game.”

Marketing night was sponsored by Chick-fil-A, Little Dipperz, and Dough Nation where they had booths at the game where students and parents were able to buy food and support the businesses. 

Melzer said he was hoping for 300 students in attendance for marketing night. He told marketing class students that they had reached their goal by having 300, if not more, students in attendance.  

Kussow says, “The atmosphere of the game was great. It was one of the biggest crowds we’ve had this year and I think the crowd really contributed to the energy in the gym.”