Sixth-grader spells his way to first-place trophy
Karsten Rolappe, far left, celebrates Friday following his second Towamensing Elementary spelling bee win in three years. Pictured with Rolappe, sixth grade, is second-place finisher Erin Gombert, fifth grade; and third-place finisher Dillon Borger, fourth grade. Scan this photo with the Prindeo app for a video. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS
Karsten Rolappe, a Towamensing Elementary sixth-grade student, holds his first-place trophy after winning the school’s fifth annual spelling bee on Friday. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS
Following his win two years ago, sixth-grade student Karsten Rolappe brought a lot of confidence into Friday’s Towamensing Elementary spelling bee.
Rolappe brushed any pressure aside in the final round to spell “diagonal” and “absurd” correctly to capture the fifth annual event. Fellow finalists included fourth-grader Dillon Borger and fifth-grader Erin Gombert.
After the trophy presentation, Rolappe took the opportunity to breathe a sigh of relief and give a nod to his competition.
“There is a lot of pressure before you go up to start spelling,” he said. “It’s pretty satisfying to win. You’re up against around 18 other people, and that is a lot. To make your way to the top and finish like that, it’s satisfying.”
Homerooms in each grade, fourth through sixth, whittled things down to their top six spellers, who then competed against each other to determine the finalists for each grade.
Friday’s event included three rounds, one for each grade, to determine the final trio of spellers.
“The students work really hard to get to this point and deserve a lot of credit,” said Kristin Heller, Towamensing librarian, who organizes the event.
Twice during the sixth-grade round, Towamensing staff had to move on to a more difficult set of words, including some the students had not seen previously.
Rolappe said he stepped up his preparation in the days leading up to the competition.
“The last three days my dad and I have been going over lists from this year and the last two years,” he said. “I won in fourth grade so I’ve been looking back and just trying to get ready the best I could.”
Tammy Hoffman, speech teacher, was the pronouncer of words, while Stacey Olewine and Kathryn Malay, reading specialists, were the judges.
Medals were awarded to Gombert for second and Borger for third place, while Rolappe took home the first-place trophy.
Gombert also made a return to the finals after representing the fourth grade last year.
Competitors in addition to Rolappe, Gombert and Borger included fourth-graders Sarah Sabo, Jocelyn Motola, Hailey Barry, Jacklyn Henninger, Mikayla Maxwell and alternate Hannah Diener; fifth-graders Lilly Stein, Trevor Anthony, Zane Himmelwright and Adriana Fugazzotto; and sixth-graders Jared Reinhard, Cora Wentz, Cadee Munjone, Emilio Gonzales, Trace Stahler and alternate Hannah Barry.
