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Bowman takes second in county spelling bee

Representing Grand Canyon, Craig Bowman placed second at the Coconino County Spelling Bee in Flagstaff last weekend.

After correctly spelling words like canary, saxophone (which he plays), diminish, veterinarian and peninsula, he missed on laryngitis. That put him in a spell-off for second place where he spelled sedentary, missed on hilarity, but went on after his opponent misspelled plaid. After correcting the spelling, Bowman then correctly spelled agile.

There were 18 rounds in all.

Hunter Kennedy of Page Middle School won first place and a $250 prize from the Flagstaff Rotary Club.

For second place, Bowman received $150 donated by the Williams Rotary Club.

John Ross Ridley of Northland Preparatory Academy took third and a $100 prize from the Grand Canyon Rotary Club. That award was presented by Rotarian Ellen Seeley.

It was unusual that the top three places were all held by boys this year. Usually the girls do much better.

This was the third time Bowman made it to the county level. In fifth grade, he went out in the first round. He made it to fourth place when he competed again in the seventh grade. As an eighth grader this is the last year of his eligibility.

"I put everything off and just crammed at the last minute, and it seemed to work!" he said of his secret to success.

The state spelling bee will be Saturday, March 31, at the KAET Channel 8 Studio on the Arizona State University campus. Bowman serves as the alternate in case Kennedy is unable to attend.


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