Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Petluri spells her way to success
Twenty-four students from Sidney Middle School, West and North elementary schools, Potter-Dix and Leyton will competed in the Cheyenne County Spelling Bee on Wednesday.
Petluri, a Sidney Middle School seventh-grader, won the Cheyenne County Spelling Bee for the third consecutive year. She will be moving on to the State Spelling Bee in Omaha on March 14. Cheering her on were parents Koti and Vije Petluri as well as her younger sister Trishna.
T-H-R-E-E – P-E-A-T: three-peat
Definition: to win a third consecutive victory.
Used in a sentence: When Sidney Middle School seventh-grader Salena Petluri captured the Cheyenne County Spelling Bee title on Wednesday, it was a three-peat.
For the third consecutive year, Petluri spelled her way to the top.
Family, friends, teachers and three judges gathered in the West Elementary auditorium to anxiously see who would be Cheyenne County's ultimate speller.
Twenty-four students from Sidney Middle School, West and North elementary schools, Potter-Dix and Leyton competed for the chance to represent Cheyenne County at the State Spelling Bee in Omaha.
Guidance counselor Carla Brauer pronounced each word from the "Spell It" guide and used it in a short sentence before students were individually called to approach the microphone for their chance to move on to the next round.
The 24 contestants breezed through the practice round as Brauer pronounced simpler words making sure everyone's – including parents' – nerves were at ease.
After the practice round, words became much more difficult. Some words even had audience members turning toward each other in confusion.
Charlotte Dorwart, the county bee coordinator, said this year's contest was one of the fastest spelling bees yet, making the rounds go by very fast.
As rounds continued quickly, the spellers were challenged with words such as "alderman," "hibachi" and "homonym," ultimately leaving Sidney Middle School's Zach Pettit, West Elementary's Meghana Nakkanti and Petluri as the final three competitors.
Making it look easy, Petluri confidently spelled "albatross" to defend her title and take the spelling bee crown.
Nakkanti, a fourth-grader finished the bee as runner-up, making her the alternate for the State Bee in Omaha.
All of the spellers received a certificate as well as a goodie bag for being among the top 24 spellers in Cheyenne County.
All smiles, Petluri and her family said they are excited about her being able to represent Cheyenne County again at the State Bee. The winner there adances to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
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