January 19, 2011 at 5:41 a.m.
| Updated January 19, 2011 at 5:41 a.m.
It came down to seventh-grader Daniel Ellinger, right, and eighth-grader Caitlyn Mahoney as Thomas Jefferson Middle School students competed in the National Geographic Geography Bee on Tuesday. Ellinger took the top spot to advance and Mahoney garnered second place. Now Ellinger has to pass a written test to move on to advanced competition.
At Emily Eskens' house over Christmas break, conversations about U.S. quarters, state parks or African countries was not uncommon.
Photo by Shannon Sturgis
Rocky
The St. Peter Interparish School fifth-grader won the geography bee in her classroom the week before the holiday.
So in preparation for the schoolwide National Geographic Geography Bee on Thursday, she has been reading up on states' histories and naming nations.
