Top Spellers from Chinook Advance to County Spelling Bee
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This group of top spellers from their respective classes qualified to compete in the Chinook School District Spelling Bee held last Tuesday. BACK ROW: Chyler Stnadiford, Ashlyn Hofeldt, Quin Billmayer, and Laura Danley. THIRD ROW: Lane Wicks, Westen Paulsen, Falyn Cecrle, Bailey Billmayer, Carter Alisch, Ayden Alisch, Gage Skoyen, Evan Davies, and Bryce Elliot. SECOND ROW: Zeke Sanders and Lori Mord. FRONT ROW: Tori Snow, Dane Frey-Haluska, Cynnloch Gibson, Addilyn Zellmer, Charley Nissen, and Liz McMaster.
In front of a small audience of fellow students and a few parents, 21 spellers from the Chinook School District employed their wits in the district's spelling bee for grades 5-8. The bee took place at Meadowlark Elementary School's gymnasium on February 1. As the words increased in difficulty, the spellers dwindled in number until one emerged victorious: fifth grader Cynnloch Gibson. He, along with five additional spellers advanced to the Blaine County Spelling Bee on February 9.
After welcoming everyone, Meadowlark School's interim Principal Leslee Weber introduced the spellers. She then turned the event over to the bee's pronouncer, Dr. Donna Miller. The Spelling Bee progressed for ten rounds as spellers wrestled with words like wattles, ogre, and ostriches.
In the ninth round, Gibson correctly spelled invigorating, then went on to spell contraption to win the bee in the tenth round. Upon being declared the winner, Gibson leaped into the arms of his mother and Kindergarten Teacher, Danelle (Tangen) Gibson for a congratulatory hug. Runner-up was eighth grader Ashlyn Hofeldt.
In a spell-off to determine the fifth and sixth place spellers, as well as alternates, the bee continued for another eight rounds.
Those spellers who earned the opportunity to accompany Gibson and Hofeldt at the County Spelling Bee on February 9 are Carter Alisch (seventh grade), Ayden Alisch (eighth grade), Zeke Sanders (eighth grade), and Bryce Elliot (sixth grade). Seventh grader Gage Skoyen was deemed first alternate and sixth grader Laura Danley won the second alternate position. Given that the junior high has a ski trip scheduled for the same day as the County Spelling Bee implies that some qualifiers will have a decision to make, one that may involve alternates stepping in.
Judges for the school's bee were Ben Hall, Shandel Fouts, and Tammy Niederegger. Additional volunteers included Melanie Qualls, who served as the Rounds Keeper, and School Librarian, Kelsey Harry, who recorded the event.
Chinook School District Spelling Bee Champion Cynnloch Gibson displays his certificate of recogniton.
Qualifiers who were not able to attend and compete on Tuesday were Alaster Fogg, Rangler Skoyen, and Colter Snedigar. Alternates who filled their places were Westen Paulsen, Lane Wicks, and Falyn Cecrle.
About the Spelling Bee, Weber said, "Congratulations to all of our contestants, and a big thank you to all of our volunteers that helped make the spelling bee possible!"
