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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

It was déjà vu for attendees to the Chilton County Spelling Bee on Feb. 5 as Marley Holsomback and Jadyn Smitherman were again the final two spellers competing for the win.

The girls had been the final two during the 2021 competition.

However, this year Marley, who attends Clanton Middle School, was able to correctly spell plaintiff for the win, instead of being the runner-up.

“I was a little nervous, but it is my third time, so I was pretty prepared,” Marley said.

She is excited about the opportunity to represent the school system at the state-level competition later this year.

She said she studied by going over the words with her mom.

Last year’s county champion, Jadyn, who attends Maplesville High School, was this year’s runner-up.

Nine students competed in the spelling bee, which started with the word journal.

Each had won their school’s spelling bee to earn their spot.

The competition went for 24 rounds before a champion was determined. This is compared to 11 rounds last year.

Some words that proved challenging for the spellers were tantrum, elevator, originate and lateral.