Cramerton Middle School sixth grader wins spelling bee

Lawrence Martin, a sixth grader at Cramerton Middle School, correctly spelled the word “cataclysmic” to win the Gaston County Schools Spelling Bee on January 31 at Ashbrook High School.  Out of 38 students from elementary and middle schools, Martin emerged victorious.  Last year, he came in second, but this time around, he clinched the title, with Cassidy Allen from Bessemer City Middle School as the runner-up.

“I feel really good,” Martin said.  “This is my third time competing. I was seventh the first time, second last year, and now winning feels great.”

His secret? Lots of practice! After school, Martin and his mom would study together, using an app to help him out.  And he’s not stopping anytime soon. Martin plans to keep practicing and studying the origin of words as he prepares to compete in March at the Carolina Panthers Spelling Bee presented by Bank of America.  The top four finishers in the regional bee will receive invitations to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Here is a list of our school-level spelling bee winners for 2024:

• H.H. Beam Elementary, Cameron Burris
• W.B. Beam Intermediate, Kynlee Lane
• Belmont Central Elementary, Everette Pressley
• Belmont Middle, Paul Sayegh
• W.A. Bess Elementary, Eli Wayne
• Bessemer City Central Elementary, Gemma Partain
• Bessemer City Middle, Cassidy Allen
• Brookside Elementary, Gianna Benjamin
• Carr Elementary, David Jacobs
• Catawba Heights Elementary, Braxton Sisk
• Chapel Grove Elementary, Azam Gasir
• John Chavis Middle, Makayla Stover
• Costner Elementary, Za’Riah Sanders
• Cramerton Middle, Lawrence Martin
• W.C. Friday Middle, Jaida Jefferies
• Gardner Park Elementary, Kylee Jean
• Gaston Virtual Academy, Hudson Roberts
• Grier Middle, Nicole Cherry
• Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, Pierrine Afundoh
• Holbrook Middle, Daniel Carpenter
• Kiser Elementary, Cooper Rash
• Lingerfeldt Elementary, Miya Degree-Stokes
• Lowell Elementary, Keira Hall
• McAdenville Elementary, Madison Williams
• Mount Holly Middle, Bode Michael
• New Hope Elementary, Corinne St. Romain
• North Belmont Elementary, Hannah Zi
• Pinewood Elementary, Liliana Barba
• Pleasant Ridge Elementary, Nate Fagel
• Rankin Elementary, Caleb McElveen
• Robinson Elementary, Khris Rivera
• Sadler Elementary, Lainey Bates
• Sherwood Elementary, Logan Allen
• Southwest Middle, Terrence Williams
• Stanley Middle, Sarah White
• Tryon Elementary, Sawyer Schronce
• Woodhill Elementary, Esther Cortez Dominguez
• York Chester Middle, Oliver McManus