POINT PLEASANT — A tricky pronunciation didn’t deter Kyle Kidwell.

Neither did repeated rounds of back and forth spelling between the remaining six contestants.

In fact, the Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School eighth grader said he used it to his advantage, eventually spelling his way to victory during Wednesday’s Mason County Spelling Bee.

Thirty-six students from around the county competed at the Lillian and Paul Wedge Auditorium at Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School for their chance to represent their school and the county at the regional bee in March.

It was Kidwell’s second appearance at the county bee, and he correctly spelled “resin” to be declared this year’s champion. The Leon resident said he only practiced for “about five minutes” prior to the event — “I didn’t study at all,” he admitted — but that he’s excited about advancing to the regional bee in Charleston.

Second place went to Kristin DeVault of Leon, who is a fifth grade student at Roosevelt Elementary School. Both will represent Mason County at the next level of competition.

Bailey Hicks of Letart, a sixth grade student at New Haven Elementary School, placed third and will serve as an alternate if Kidwell or DeVault cannot attend the regional bee.

The students’ hard work and practice paid off, according to Robin Casto, spelling bee coordinator, and she commended each of the participants for a job well done.

“They’re all winners,” Casto added.

Other participants in Wednesday’s spelling bee were Ciara Stanley, Beale Elementary; Jacob Swisher, Point Pleasant Intermediate; Erin Kidwell, Leon Elementary; Trinity Mayes, Ashton Elementary; Austin McDaniel, Leon Elementary; Shawna Hill, Hannan Junior Senior High; Charles Adkins, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High;

Keaton Burch, Point Pleasant Intermediate; Brandon Henderson, Ashton Elementary; Derek King, Roosevelt Elementary; Seth Morgan, Point Pleasant Intermediate; Aislyn Hayman, Leon Elementary; Keara Clay, New Haven Elementary; Amy Lewis, Wahama Junior Senior High; Karlee Arnold, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; Sam Martin, Point Pleasant Intermediate;

Avery Daugherty, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; Mason Hildreth, New Haven Elementary; Sammy Fox, Wahama Junior Senior High; Anthony Linger, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; Heather Ellis, Hannan Junior Senior High; Leandra Harper, Hannan Junior Senior High; Kasie Peters, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; Shayne Ward, Point Pleasant Intermediate;

Peyton Humphries, New Haven Elementary; Kodi Stranahan, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; Keely Copley, Ashton Elementary; Savannah McDaniel, Wahama Junior Senior High; Taylor Whitt, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; Dana Gibbs, Beale Elementary; Megan Hammond, Roosevelt Elementary; Taylor Miller, Point Pleasant Junior Senior High; and Ryan Stover, Beale Elementary.