I think you should consider helping them. It's pretty clear they lack the mentorship from others, time to build or knowledge to get done and flying. Go in knee deep, show one, do one style. Let them fly both, take times, adjust ballast and get scores. Just don't send them in. Make this deal before you wade in, get the kids to agree that this year is for fun and learning, next year for competition. That will bring the fun back and keep the interest up. Utter failure due to lack of direction and knowledge will generally discourage students and the TARC team will fizzle.
JMHO
I'm located near Raleigh, NC, roughly 350 - 400 miles from them ( other than "Northern New Jersey", no city was mentioned ). That makes it impossible for me to be able to show them anything "hands-on" or be able to directly supervise them. It could be done via email, but it would probably "look" like I was telling them what to do.
From what I can tell here, they have "barely" launched a model rocket before ( except for the booster motor "fiasco" ). They certainly have never been taught anything about how to design a rocket and "barely" how to build one. Actually, by them flying an "old design", done by another TARC team, they are violating the rules. I take a "hands-on" approach to teaching Rocketry, due to the skills involved and the need for "instant feedback", at times.
Now, with that said, as long as it is NOT for "actual" TARC flying THIS YEAR, I would be happy to provide them with a "basic", competitive BT-70 design, using simple methods and materials, along with step by step building instructions, that meets the requirements of this year's TARC contest.
Personally, I'd like to know who their NAR Mentor is and hear the story from their perspective . . . These are the New Jersey TARC Mentors ( below )
Their contact information is available here :
https://www.nar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mentor-List-24-Jan-2019.pdf
NEW JERSEY
Steve Humphrey - Warren, NJ
Scott Alexander - Warren, NJ
Art Treiman - Cherry Hill, NJ
Jim & Linda Szypula - Egg Harbor Twp, NJ
Bruce Canino - Williamstown, NJ
Barry Berman - Mantua, NJ
Fred Taverni - Hackettstown, NJ
Stephen Coker - West Berlin, NJ
Mike Zapolski - Bridgeton, NJ
Joe Dunay - Edison, NJ
George George - Carlstadt, NJ
Dave F.