The top spellers in the Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School District met on Jan. 31 at the San Manuel High School auditorium to determine the top three spellers and three alternates that would be representing the district at the Pinal County Spelling Bee. The students were members of the Spelling Bee clubs which were organized at First Avenue Elementary, Mammoth Elementary STEM School and San Manuel Jr./Sr. High School. The top 6 spellers from each school 4th through 8th grade were selected to compete at the District Spelling Bee.
Mrs. Annette Soqui led the First Avenue club which consisted of Kiera Boulware, 1st Place; Nico Chavez Molina, 2nd Place; Andrea Nabor, 3rd Place; Mateo Chavez Molina, 4th Place; Marcus Hubbard, 5th Place; and Jocelyn Romero, 6th Place.
The Mammoth Elementary STEM School club was coached by Manny Chavez. Winners were: 1st Place, Grecia Rodriguez; 2nd Place, Niana Gallego, 3rd Place, Izayah Valenzuela; 4th Place, Vicente Curry; 5th Place, Diego Camarena; and 6th Place, Lena Stella.
Mrs. Denise Fisher led the San Manuel Jr./Sr. High School club whose winners were: 1st Place, Daniella Kotopoulous; 2nd Place, Mia Borg; 3rd Place, Rianna Estrada; 4th Place, Autumn Small; 5th Place, Miacela Burnham; and 6th Place, Alyssa Riekofski.
After nine rounds of spelling, Daniella Kotopoulous, a 7th grade student at San Manuel Jr./Sr. High School, correctly spelled the word “digestive” to take 1st place in the district spelling bee. Autumn Small and Rianna Estrada both 7th graders took 2nd and 3rd Place. The alternates were: Kiera Boulware, 6th Place, 1st Avenue 5th grade; Lena Stella, 5th Place, Mammoth Elementary STEM School, 6th grade; & Marcus Hubbard, 4th Place, 1st Avenue Elementary 4th grade.
The top three winners of the district spelling Bee will be competing in the 54th Annual Pinal County Spelling Bee, which will be held on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 at the Coolidge High School Performing Arts Center. The center is located at 684 W. Northern Ave. in Coolidge. The alternates will travel to Coolidge and if one of the top three is unable to compete, an alternate will take their place.
Congratulations to all the competitors and good luck to the district winners!