“Macchiato” was the winning word of the 2024 Pima County Spelling Bee — but the victor isn’t yet old enough to work at a Starbucks or a Dutch Bros writing it on a cup. (It means espresso with a dash of frothy steamed milk.)
Ricardo Cabrera, an eighth-grader at Dodge Magnet Middle School in Tucson Unified School District, outlasted 36 other spellers to become the county champion.
Runner-up was Bryant Banzhaf, who is in fifth grade at Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary in Marana Unified School District.
The Spelling Bee lasted 10 rounds and 2.5 hours and was hosted by Canyon del Oro High School.
Ricardo Cabrera, first place, and Bryant Banzhaf, second place, with their Spelling Bee trophies on Saturday.
Cabrera and Banzhaf will advance to the Arizona Educational Foundation State Spelling Bee on March 16 in Phoenix. They will compete against winners from other counties to represent Arizona at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland in May.
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Pima County’s third-place finisher, Allegra Knerr, a seventh-grader at Desert Sky Middle School in Vail Unified School District, will serve as the alternate for the State Bee.
From left to right, first place through third place, are Ricardo Cabrera, Bryant Banzhaf and Allegra Knerr.
The top three finishers received tablets thanks to sponsor Volpe Team at NOVA Home Loans, said the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office in a news release Saturday.
Fourth-place finisher Tobi Marcus, who is in sixth grade at Legacy Traditional School NW, was also recognized in the news release.
For a full list of the competitors, see the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office Facebook page.
