Area Students Go Head to Head for Spelling Bee Title [VIDEO, AUDIO]

COLLEGEVILLE - Can you spell Samovar? Troika? Beleaguered?

Those are just a sampling of the over 100 tough words conquered by area middle-schoolers during today's Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee at St. John's University.

The winning word? Menagerie, spelled by Sartell-St. Stephen 7th grader Alyssa Franzmeier.

The morning competition went a total of 16 rounds, with 3 out of 4 final contestants from the St. Cloud area.

In the end, Franzmeier claimed the title, with the runner up being Sauk Rapids-Rice 8th grader Marissa Leeb.

Franzmeier says she wasn't always certain if she knew how to spell the words she was given.

Both will advance to the State competition on March 1st in Fergus Falls.

Middle School Spelling Whizzes Face Off at St. John's University - YouTube.