Going to state for a spell

Amber Williams, of Saratoga Middle School, placed second at the Carbon County Spelling Bee this past Wednesday and brought home two trophies. One for top speller in eighth grade and one for the second place finish.

The second place finish has earned her a trip to Rock Springs to compete in the state spelling bee competition.

It was the word "stethoscope" that knocked Amber out of the competition for the first place spot, and it was the same speller from Rawlins, Toby Arment, who beat her last year. Amber said she was a little frustrated losing with that word, especially since she had spelled "dodecahedron" correctly. "I said 'a' instead of 'o'," Amber said. "I have always been good at spelling." This is her second year competing at the county level.

Toby, a seventh grade student, has won the spelling bee for the second year in a row, Amber said.

Kennison Spiering placed fourth and will be an alternate, if anyone from first, second or third place is unable to compete at Rock Springs.

Ryan Stonestreeter, an eighth grade student at Hanna-Medicine Bow-Elk Mountain Jr. High School, earned third place in the spelling bee.

Other placings from Saratoga were sixth graders Taylor Bennett, who placed first in in all schools and Ethan McArthur who placed third. Fifth grader Katelyn Bifano placed second, fourth grader Zach McArthur placed second and third grader Rowdy Alameda placed second.