By Tim Leeds
Sixty-nine students from 13 county schools and home schools met at the 35th Annual Hill County Spelling Bee at the Havre Middle School yesterday.
When it was over, HMS sixth-grader Jeremy Giardina took first place, HMS seventh-grader Tyson Parman took second, and HMS eighth-grader Katie Jarvis took third.
Giardina and Parman battled through the 13th round, when Parman misspelled vivacious and Giardina correctly spelled antidotal and whimsical.
The winner had to correctly spell two words in the final round to win the bee.
Giardina will advance to the Treasure State Spelling Bee in Helena on Saturday, April 8.
Jarvis lost on the word cosmetologist in the sixth round of the bee.
The top three winners received trophies for their placing in the bee. The fourth through 10th place winners received commemorative 2000 Hill County Spelling Bee hats and certificates as awards.
The other placers were: fourth, Neal Rossette, eighth grade, Box Elder; fifth, Brandon Morse, eighth-grade, HMS; sixth, Mike Inabnit, seventh-grade, HMS; seventh, Matt Strissel, eighth-grade, Blue Sky; eighth, Miranda Quincy, sixth-grade, HMS; ninth, Casey Tribby, seventh-grade, HMS; Kayla Bauer, fifth-grade, Sunnyside.
Kevin Barsotti pronounced the words for the students. Bill Lisenby was the master of ceremonies. The judges were Cathie Haas, Shelly Vial and Jay Springer. The county bee director was Shirley Isbell. The recording technician was Bill Mulvaney.
The Havre Jaycees provided the first-place trophy. The Hill County Superintendent of Schools provided the second- and third-place trophies. The hats awarded to the top 10 were provided by the Hill County Superintendent of Schools. The participation certificates were provided by Lee Newspapers of Montana.
