Middle school students spell it out at district spelling bee

What do a skunk, tripod and patina have in common?

Absolutely nothing. Except that they were all words used in the Douglas County School District's seventh-and eighth-grade spelling bee at Carson Valley Middle School on Tuesday.

"We've got some serious spellers here," moderator and librarian Martha Betcher said halfway through the seventh-grade competition. "We only have 75 words, so I am a little worried."

After eight rounds of spelling, Malcolm Seamans of Pau-Wa-Lu and Avery Wells of CVMS found themselves the last two standing.

Avery used the letter "F" in the word "sapphire" instead of "P," giving Malcolm the advantage. Malcolm correctly spelled the word "potentially," but, as rules dictate, he had to spell another word to secure first place.

The word was "spectacular," and there was spectacular applause in the audience after Malcolm spelled it correctly.

"I have a photographic memory," Malcolm explained after the competition. "I see words in my mind."

"I read a lot," said runner-up Avery, explaining why he was a good speller.

The eighth-grade also saw some tight competition. "Glucose," "illuminate" and "crustacean" were just some of the words thrown at students.

After six rounds, two spellers were left. Austin Bachman of Pau-Wa-Lu missed the word "postpartum." Thirteen-year-old Kate Niday of CVMS nailed the word "adolescence," and then followed it with the correct spelling of "avalanche."

"We have a winner!" Betcher announced.

"It's exciting," Kate said after the finals. "I've won every year possible in my school bee, but never the district bee before."

Like Avery, Kate said she reads a lot.

"I studied a little and had my mom quiz me," she said.

Eighth-grade runner-up Austin said he was happy to be part of the excitement.

"The goal was just to make it to the district level," he said.

On March 20, the two first-place winners will be traveling to Las Vegas for the state spelling bee.