FREDERIC – Cottonwood, sheepish, slippery, apartment and innings. Those are just some of the words that fourth- and fifth-grade students at Frederic Elementary School had to know how to spell in order to win the school’s second-annual spelling bee, which took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 10.
A total of 12 students ended up qualifying for the spelling bee final, including Morgan Adams, Teagan Anderson, Sophia Brown, Amy Egeland, Alan Hill, Holden Huskinson, Tegan Lundberg, Hadley Lundquist, Emory Nelson, Sonya Sawall, and two other students whose names were not released.
All of the students involved in the finals did an amazing job when it came to spelling. In fact, after 12 rounds, only half of the original students were eliminated. Things got a little harder by the time the 13th round rolled around, with another three students eliminated. However, it took several more rounds to crown the winners. In the end, 118 words were given.
The first-place winner crown went to Hadley Lundquist, who is in fourth grade. The school says she is really good at art, computers, and loves spelling. Lundquist said her favorite spelling word is “Navajo.” When she is not competing in spelling bees, Lundquist says she likes reading, in particular the “Baby Sitters Club.” Alan Hill won second place, while Tegan Lundberg won third place.
Fifth-grade teachers Rhonda Maier and Nate McNaughton hosted the spelling bee. They explained that Lundquist will advance to the next level of competition in the Scripps spelling bee. Of course, the ultimate goal is to make it to the Grand Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held from May 31 to June 2, outside of Washington, D.C.
