High school students compete for funding in entrepreneurship contest
Midway sophomore’s fishing lure innovation wins $2,000 prize
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Students from Midway and Lorena high schools competed in an entrepreneurship pitch competition, with teams presenting innovative projects to judges for a chance to win funding to develop their products.
Midway sophomore Mayez Gooch’s team took first place with an innovative fishing lure design that allows users to swap lures quickly without untying the fishing line. Gooch developed the concept when he was nine years old.
“I didn’t think we were gonna win. I didn’t know how the other teams were. They had some really good ideas. I’m just thankful that we won,” Gooch said.
Lorena High School senior Maddie Braus’s team finished second in the competition.
“The Midway team did so great. I’m really glad that we were both in the finals together. I’m so happy for them that they won. Their product is really great and it’s further developed. I think they’re going to go pretty far and I hope we do too,” Braus said.
Gooch’s winning team operates under the company name “Anglers Edge” and will receive up to $2,000 in reimbursement from Waco Startup for expenses related to product development.
Waco Startup plans to expand the competition to include four schools next year.
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