NEWS

Hofmann Is Top SCS Speller

By Matthew Avitabile · January 15, 2026 · The Mountain Eagle

SCHOHARIE - In a hard fought 16-round battle, seventh grader Ashtyn Hofmann won the 2026 Schoharie Central School Spelling Bee Tuesday morning.

For the final seven rounds, Ashtyn and fellow seventh grader Teddy Bruno went back and forth, but in the end Ashtyn successfully spelled '"fiberglass" as the Championship Word.

Ashtyn will now advance to compete in the Regional Spelling Bee in March in Albany.

Participants in the spelling bee in the high school auditorium were:

* Fourth grade: Kayla Grabowski, Harper Schadt, Liam Throssell, and Emerson Von Linden.

* Fifth grade: Norah Fretto, Chase Keller, Kendall Lavoy, and Sophie Yonnone.

* Sixth grade: Danielle Fernandez, Brooke Porter, and Brennan Selah-Cammack.

* Teddy Bruno, Gabriel Florussen, Ashtyn Hofmann, and Bailey Salomon.

* Eight grade: Mason McKenny, Kierra Peckham, Gabriel Ringuette, and Max Rosenthal.

Prizes for the bee were provided by the Schoharie EPTSO and the event was sponsored y the SCS Student Government.

Teacher Ed Rivers, head of the Student Government, explains the rules before the bee starts.

Librarian Marion Burghart once again served as pronouncer.

Eighth grader Max Rosenthal spells a word in an early round.

Eyes are on fifth grader Chase Keller as he spells a word Tuesday morning.

Seventh grader Teddy Bruno eventually came in second place.