BOUNTIFUL -- If some were asked how to spell "rhinoceros," they might say "with letters." But not the kids at Muir Elementary School. On Thursday, nine students at Muir tested their spelling skills for a place in the South Davis spelling bee. They represent the efforts of students from nearly 60 schools across Davis County who have completed local spelling bees in preparation for wider competition. At stake is a berth at the Davis County Spelling Bee March 15 -- and possibly a trip to the National Spelling Bee in late May.

But standing in the way for the elementary school winners are the North Davis and South Davis Regional Spelling Bees, which take place next week. The competition, sponsored by the Davis County Clipper and the county's PTA Councils, will include a North Davis Spelling Bee at Syracuse Junior High School Feb. 13 and a South Davis Spelling Bee at Bountiful High School Feb. 15.

The top spellers in those events will advance to the Davis County Spelling Bee March 13.

Thursday's scene at Muir Elementary School was typical of events held throughout the county in recent weeks.

Roughly 50 parents, students and teachers came to watch the grueling competition, which included a fierce first round, taking out four of the nine students.

Each member of the audience watched intensely, sighing or breathing relief, as students spelled out each letter of the word given. Some in the audience even questioned the judges' ruling.

In the end, Kacie Hirano, 5th-grade student, won first-place after spelling rhinoceros without hesitation.

Hirano will be representing Muir Elementary School as its first-place winner in South Davis Spelling Bee. The winner from this spelling bee will compete in the Davis County spelling bee and will have a chance to go to nationals, an opportunity sponsored by the Clipper and the county's PTAs.

"Math and science are my favorite subjects," Hirano said. "But I also like spelling. I practice at night sometimes."

"I'm nervous and excited to go," Hirano said about the South Davis spelling bee.

After Hirano secured her spot, the spelling bee continued to decide who would take second and third-place.

One-by-one, students were eliminated, as words such as decipher, impromptu and hazardous were misspelled.

As the students were eliminated, audience members and other contestants offered their support in the form of a thumbs-up, a pat on the back and kind whispers such as, "It's OK, you did great."

But as the group got smaller, the spelling bee continued for many rounds before the second-place position was won by 4th-grade student Madilyn Anderson.

"I love to read and write," Anderson, who reads at a 6th-grade-level, said. "I think that reading helps me know how to spell because I have to look up the big words and it helps you learn punctuation."

Sixth-grader Kristen McGuire was next in line, taking the spelling bee's third-place.

"My favorite subjects are science and math," McGuire said. "I don't really practice spelling that much, I just know how words are spelled."

Hirano, Anderson and McGuire will be competing in the South Davis Spelling Bee for a place in the Davis County Spelling Bee.

The South Davis spelling bee will take place Thursday, Feb. 15 from 7-9:30 p.m. at Bountiful High School.

The North Davis Spelling Bee will be Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 7-9:30 p.m. at Syracuse Junior High School.

The students who win the top spots will compete against one another for the first-place position in Davis County. This student will then be sent to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.