State spelling finalist from Ustach Middle School a steady competitor
A sixth-grader from Ustach Middle School in the Sylvan Union School District of north Modesto took a bow as a finalist at the state Spelling Bee in Stockton, tied for third after 13 rounds with a girl from Alameda County.
Michael Balerite, 11, came into the April 23 competition as a spelling veteran, having captured second place in the same contest in 2014 as a fourth-grader. “Quandary” was the stumper that year.
As a third-grader in 2013, Michael battled his way past “obsequious,” “rapscallion” and “cauliflower” to tie for first in the Stanislaus County spelling championship and head to the Stockton competition.
Saturday’s first-place winner was also a veteran of the spelling stage. After 17 rounds, 11-year-old Ananya Vinay, a fifth-grader from Fresno County, was named the 2016 California State Spelling Bee champion.
Her winning word was “pugilist” (a professional boxer). Her 2016 trophy will find a spot on a crowded shelf. Vinay was also the 2015 State Elementary Spelling Bee champion.
Saturday’s contest brought about 300 people to cheer on contestants at the event, hosted by the San Joaquin County Office of Education for the sixth consecutive year.
Competing for the championship were 56 fourth- through sixth-grade students from 28 counties who had been certified as champions by their county superintendents of schools.
Nan Austin: 209-578-2339, @NanAustin
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 3:49 PM with the headline "State spelling finalist from Ustach Middle School a steady competitor."