Eighth grader Christian Baldari captured first place at Benjamin’s Middle School Spelling Bee on January 27 by consecutively spelling both “decennial” and “accolades” correctly. Fellow eighth grader Michael Yancey finished second.

Baldari beat out 31 other finalists during the morning program which was held in the BPAC in front of parents, teachers, and the entire middle school student body.

“It feels great to be a winner, as this competition was difficult and I feel special to be the person representing the Benjamin School at the regional spelling bee,” he said.

Despite outlasting the other spellers in what was nearly a two-hour competition, Baldari admits he didn’t pull any all-nighters studying for the bee. “As to practicing, I did not particularly study a great deal of time, but just read over the study list a couple times. In the regionals, I just hope to enjoy myself and savor the atmosphere of the competition. I do not plan on making it to nationals, but I am just hoping to do my best, and that will be more than satisfactory to me.”

Some of the finalists may have been unnerved by the bright lights of the BPAC stage and having to spell in front of hundreds of people, including their peers.

Seventh grader Sebastian Nachilly was very disappointed because he misspelled the word “billiards” even though he knew how to spell it. “I guess I was just a little nervous,” said Nachilly. “I knew how to spell the word, but it just came out wrong.”

TBS is very proud of both Christian and Michael for earning first place and runner up, respectively, in the school bee. Christian, along with fifth grader Bryce Weisser, who won the lower school bee, will represent TBS at the regional bee which will be held on February 23 at 4:00 p.m. in Benjamin Hall. Benjamin wishes Baldari and Weisser the best of luck at the regionals.