Charlo bee winner too young to compete at county
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CHARLO — Charlo Schools’ top speller doesn’t get to try his luck at the Lake County Spelling Bee this year.
No, the speller isn’t on vacation or sick, Niko Marquez is a fourth grader.
Fourth graders traditionally are allowed to spell in the Charlo bee, but no one can remember a time when a fourth grader won, except this year when Niko came out on top.
Principal Steve Love had to tell Niko he couldn’t advance to the Lake County Spelling Bee because it’s only for fifth through eighth graders.
While Niko was disappointed to not be able to go to the county bee, he has four more years of spelling bee eligibility.
For the Charlo spell-down, the top three spellers in each class went to the gym to participate in the bee.
“I was nervous,” Niko said. “You had to use a microphone.”
He didn’t do any special practicing, he said.
“But I’ve never got a bad grade on a spelling test,” Niko explained, adding that he sees the words in his head when he spells.
Words he remembers from the spelldown are salami, fourth, cavalry and the word that won the bee for him — affect.
Other than being a good speller, Niko said math is his favorite subject. He likes to read, especially mysteries. He has three sisters and twin brothers, which sometimes he likes and sometimes he doesn’t, he said.
“Niko’s the first fourth grader to win (the school spelling bee) in Charlo history,” said Bonnie Perry, Niko’s fourth grade teacher. “We’re so proud of him.”
