UPDATE: Sauk Rapids-Rice Student, Three Others Advance to State Spelling Bee [AUDIO]

SARTELL --Four students have moved on to the next round after competing in the Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee.

Forty-six students from grades 5th through 8th put their vocabulary skills to the test today (Thursday) at Resource Training and Solutions, for a chance at a trophy and to compete at the National Spelling Bee.

Twenty-Two spellers took the stand this morning, fifteen of them from St. Cloud area schools.

Eighth grader Braden Martini, of Sauk Rapids, took first place and 8th grader Grant Cohrs, of Watertown-Mayer, took second place in the morning session.

Martini says while he is excited to win he knows the next round will be tough.

Cohrs says he tried not to study to much so his mind would be fresh during the contest.

Cheyenne Schmitz, an 8th grader from Sauk Rapids, finish in third place. She was brought back into the finals after appealing a judges ruling.

Over 100 words were used in this mornings spelling bee.

Twenty-four student competed in the afternoon session. Sixth grader Nicholas Little (first) and 8th grader Eleanor Weckwerth (second), both of Dassel-Cokato, took home first and second place.

Martini, Cohrs, Little and Weckwerth will all move on to the Multi-Region State Spelling Bee in Fergus Falls on February 23rd.

One winner from the Multi-State Regional Bee will go to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.