Cayuse Prairie School sixth-grader Mary Grace Carey buried the competition at the Flathead County Spelling Bee with the correct spelling of “cemetery.”

Carey secured the win after 10 rounds. By round 11, Stillwater Christian School seventh-grader Carson Miller was announced as the second-place winner. Whitefish Christian School sixth-grader Amelia Krezowski placed third in the 12th round.

Before the county spelling bee kicked off Thursday in the Glacier High School performance hall, Flathead County Superintendent of Schools Jack Eggensperger commended the spellers, who ranged in grade levels from fifth through eighth, for their hard work and making it this far, which meant winning classroom and school level spelling bees. Pronouncer Nancy Helms then reminded students to have fun.

To prepare for the spelling bee, Carey and Miller used a similar method to practice.

“My mom helped me. She would ask me the words and I would spell them to her,” Carey said. “Every time I got a word right she would highlight it, and if I didn’t she would highlight it in a different color and we would do those words again until I got them all right.”

Miller added that he would also write down the words on paper. Krezowski, who said she reads before bed, substituted a book with the spelling bee word lists.

All three advance to the Treasure State Spelling Bee on March 14 at Montana State University.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.