Above photo: Teacher Terry Burton pronounces another word at the spelling bee Wednesday morning.

MIDDLEBURGH - Sixth grader Stoney Beal won the Middleburgh elementary spelling bee last Wednesday morning.

Stoney outlasted 18 other spellers from grades four, five, and six, who advanced from their grade levels.

Sixth grader Eva McCarthy finished second and fifth grader Denis Clark came in third in the school cafeteria.

The top spellers advanced to the district-wide spelling bee at the high school later this year.

Photos by David Avitabile.

Sixth grader Alex Rehberg listens before spelling a word last Wednesday.

Eventual winner Stoney Beal gets ready to spell a word.

Sixth grader Eva McCarthy eventually came in second place.

Fourth grader Madyson Bacon returns to her seat after spelling her word Wednesday morning.

Madison Strauser, a sixth grader, listens before she spells her word last week.

Contestants did a lot of clapping at the spelling bee.

Fifth grader Denis Clark listens before spelling his word.