Sue Sitter/PCT Contestants in the Pierce County Spelling Bee were, from left to right, seventh-graders Ella Walker, Sophia Brandt, Abby Hager, Marly Santjer; and eighth-graders Tailyr Bush and Carter Teigen. After four tiebreaking rounds, Teigen won the contest and Walker placed as the runner-up.

After four tiebreaker rounds at the Pierce County Spelling Bee on Feb. 9 in the Rugby High School library, the word “malapropism” determined the winner.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, malapropism means “the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase, especially: the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context. ‘Jesus healing those leopards’ is an example of malapropism.”

Eighth-grader Carter Teigen won the fifth tiebreaker round, spelling the words “malapropism” and “embroidery” correctly. Teigen and runner-up Ella Walker, a seventh-grader, will travel to Bismarck for the North Dakota State Spelling Bee, to be held at the Bismarck Event Center on March 21.

The six middle school contestants made sure to understand the context of the words they spelled, both in writing and spoken aloud.

Junior high English teacher Kari Geisinger served as moderator for the contest, explaining the rules and presenting awards to the young spellers.

After the contest, Geisinger said the group of students impressed her with their spelling skills.

“And I learned some new words today myself,” she said, smiling.

Participating in the spelling bee with Teigen and Walker were seventh-graders Sophia Brandt, Abby Hager, and Marly Santjer and eighth-grader Tailyr Bush.

Elementary school students competed in the Pierce County Spelling Bee as well. Third- through sixth-graders from both Ely and Little Flower Elementary Schools met for their competition, also held on Feb. 9 in the Ely Elementary School cafeteria. Although there would be no trip to state for winners at the elementary level, top spellers for each grade received trophies. Winners for the Ely Elementary School Spelling Bee were Harper Seykora, third grade; Bella Grove, fourth grade; Nathan Thiel, fifth grade; and sixth-grader Easton Geiszler.