Onaway freshman wins regional spelling bee

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

What does it take to win a spelling bee? Sure, hours of practice, but luck can play a big part as well.

Emily Glass, Onaway High School freshman, and the daughter of John and Renee Glass, won the regional trophy and advances to the state competition in Standish in March.

The final two speller spellers were Inga Dolinski of Inland Lakes school and Glass. Inga incorrectly spelled, ?sclerosis,? which left the doo

r open for Emily. ?I really wasn?t sure about it,? she said of the word, ?but Inga spelled it the way I thought it was. I guessed a vowel, and got it right.? Glass went on to correctly spell ?morphology? to claim the top spot.

It was one of many tough words she had to tackle, and she surprised herself, especially with the word ?eccentricity.? ?That was one I wasn?t sure about,? said Emily. That was four or five words before she had to spell sclerosis.

What does she think about moving on? ?I?m scared,? she said. ?I don?t know, it?ll be kind of cool, I guess. I don?t mind doing it, it?s fun.?

It?s not all luck, as she tries to practice with her mom for about an hour each night. The contest took place at the Cheboygan Knights of Columbus Hall and is sponsored by the Cheboygan Tribune.