Bennington Wins First Place in 2026 Wildcat Business Invitational

Bennington claimed first place, while Arlington and Elkhorn Valley took home second and third, respectively, in Wayne State College’s annual Wildcat Business Invitational held Oct. 14 on campus.

Approximately 200 students from 16 Nebraska high schools competed in several events in different areas of business. They were accounting, business communication, computer science and technology, economics, entrepreneurship, introduction to business, introduction to Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), job interview, and personal finance.

“We’re extremely happy that so many area high schools choose to participate in the Wildcat Business Invitational each year,” said Dr. Charles Parker, professor of business and economics at Wayne State and event coordinator. “It shows that students are committed to learning about the many aspects of business, which will help them in their college careers and later in life.”

Participating Nebraska schools were Arlington, Bennington, Boyd County, Elkhorn Valley, Emerson-Hubbard, Gretna, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Lutheran High Northeast, Neligh-Oakdale, Norfolk High School, Osmond, Seward, South Sioux City, Summerland, Tekamah-Herman, and Wausa.

Top Schools (Champion Cup)

1. Bennington (110 points)
2. Arlington (56 points)
3. Elkhorn Valley (36 points)

The top students in each event were:

Accounting

1. Cole Johnson – Bennington
2. Landon Rutjens – Elkhorn Valley
3. Jaxson Jorgensen – Bennington
4. Chase Schwatz – Elkhorn Valley 
5. Erick Villicana – South Sioux City

Business Communication

1. Brynn Moon – Bennington 
2. Nina Mendez Templin – Norfolk
3. Aisha Mar Macossay – Bennington 
4. Kiana Pierre – Bennington 
5. Khloe Franck – Bennington

Computer Science and Technology

1. Reid Lancaster – Arlington
2. Delaney Green – Bennington
3. Will Ricker – Arlington
4. Brynn Moon – Bennington
5. Hannah Hofeldt – Neligh-Oakdale

Economics

1. Paxton Smith – Bennington
2. Preston Sheets – Bennington 
3. Jaxson Jorgensen – Bennington
4. Braxton Soll – Arlington
5. Cole Johnson – Bennington

Entrepreneurship

1. Emerson Penne – Elkhorn Valley
2. Max Simonsen – Gretna 
3. Weston Patefield – Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
4. Landon Rutjens – Elkhorn Valley
5. Alvie Bearinger – Summerland

Introduction to Business

1. Fallon Zimmerman – Bennington 
2. Hannah Stacy – Bennington
3. Hannah Hofeldt – Neligh-Oakdale
4. Delaney Fuchser – Emerson-Hubbard
5. Adeline Wasmund – Bennington

Introduction to Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

1. Kerringan Johannes – Arlington
2. Dylan Eddie – Arlington
3. Easton Reiser – Boyd County
4. Maddie Gallop – Lutheran High Northeast
5. Laney Paul – Tekamah-Herman

Job Interview

1. Sara Thiellen – Gretna
2. Bella Wilcox – Arlington 
3. Nicholas Wegman – Seward

Personal Finance

1. Preston Sheets – Bennington 
2. Braxton Soll – Arlington
3. Rusty Brugioni – Gretna
4. Alisha Mar Macossay – Bennington
5. Nina Mendez Templin – Norfolk