Bella Grove, seventh grader in Rugby, took part in the North Dakota State Spelling Bee.

Local students Bella Grove and Pius Wangler were among 100 students who competed at the North Dakota State Spelling Bee in Bismarck on March 17.

“All 100 kids started by doing the written tests and then moved onto the vocab section where you had to match the definitions to the right word.” Grove said.

Grove is a seventh grade competitor.

After all students finished their written tests, they were judged and then certificates were presented as placements were announced.

“Only the top 25 participated in the oral spelling bee section,” Grove said. “This is my first year doing the state spelling bee but I have been participating in the county spelling bee since third grade and have won every year since I started. It was very different from the county spelling bee.”

Pius Wangler, eighth grader in Rugby, took part in the North Dakota State Spelling Bee.

Grove was the Pierce County Spelling Bee first place winner. She also participates in other activities.

“I am in FFA, volleyball, basketball, 4-H and track,” she said.

Grove went on to talk about growing up on a farm and enjoying the work she does on her farm to help out.

When asked what she wants to do when she gets older, she said, “I want to stay in the farming area but I would like to go to college for veterinary work and come back to work on the farm.”

Pius Wangler, an eighth grader who was the second place winner in the Pierce County Spelling Bee, talked about his experience at the state spelling bee.

“This is my second year doing the spelling bee and I went to state last year,” he said.

Wangler said he is from Rugby but was born in Colorado.

“We moved to Rugby in 2025 because my grandparents live here and we wanted to be closer to family,” he said.

Wangler is also involved in other activities and sports at school.

“I am in football, wrestling and golf,” he said. “This is my second year in wrestling and golf. I am wanting to pursue football in the future and I am currently playing left tackle.”

Both students said they will continue to participate in the spelling bee in the future as well as their other activities they have been involved in at their school and in their community.