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Hubbard student wins Trumbull County spelling bee

Newton Falls third grader Michael Holesko, left, runner up and Hubbard eighth grader Carlly Taylor, winner, congratulate each other at the TCESC spelling bee.

By BOB COUPLAND

Staff writer

HUBBARD –Being on her home turf helped as Hubbard Middle School eighth-grader Carly Taylor, 13, won the Trumbull County Spelling Bee held at Hubbard High School.

Carly and 26 other spellers from across the county competed Wednesday at the bee hosted by the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.

Carly spelled “cliches” and “salutation” correctly to win the bee, which had 14 rounds.

“I just kept practicing the list of words, which really helped prepare me,” she said.

Carly and first runner-up Michael Holesko, 8, a third-grader at Newton Falls Middle School, went several rounds together before she spelled two words correctly in a row to win the bee.

“He was a really good competitor and speller. A few rounds were a little hectic when we both kept misspelling the words,” Carly said.

Carly said her grandparents, Joan and Rick Humphrey of Hubbard, helped her prepare for the bee.

“They would randomly ask me to spell words even when we were in the car,” she said.

Joan Humphrey said she kept the list of words with her and would ask her words when they were going places.

“The key for preparing for the bee was for her to just have fun practicing. We are proud of her. She had been home sick a few days and did very well for not feeling so well,” Humphrey said.

Michael said he practiced the list of words many times before the event having family members read words to him to spell.

“I was surprised I made it this far. I thought I was going to be out sooner,” Michael said.

Tarah and Erik Holesko of Newton Falls said they would help their son practice whenever there was free time.

“After he got ready in the morning for school we would practice the words for 15 minutes each day, and at night before he went to bed we would go over the list of words again,” Tarah Holesko said.

Carly will next compete at the 87th annual Vindicator Printing Company Regional Spelling Bee 9 a.m. March 14 in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center on Youngstown State University.

Michael will compete at the 29th annual Tribune Chronicle Scripps National Spelling Bee 6 p.m. March 10 at Kent State at Trumbull.

Angela Guarnieri, one of the judges and supervisor of curriculum instruction with TCESC, said the bee was for students in grades 3 to 8 at Trumbull County public schools.

The second runner-up was Courtney Wilcox of Lincoln PK-8 in Warren, third runner-up Kharma Longville of Niles Middle School, and fourth runner up Jackson Bortmas of Niles Intermediate School.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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