For two years, Straughn Elementary School fifth grader Ryan Cobb finished second in the school spelling bee behind Taj Patel, who had won the spelling bee kindergarten through fifth grade.
When Patel moved to the middle school this year, Cobb said he hoped it was his year.

“I was real excited,” he said.
He’s been practicing most nights since Patel beat him last school year.
“People were saying it was my year,” he said. “But the truth is, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the Lord’s work.”
When Cobb studies, he said his parents call out a list of words to him.
“We normally do two or three lines every time we do it,” he said. “But the day before the spelling bee after church, we went through the whole list several times.”
Cobb said when students win their class spelling bee, teachers give them a list of words to begin studying.”
Cobb’s winning word at the SES spelling bee was legitimately.
Cobb said he’s nervous about the county spelling bee.
“I went last year to watch Taj,” he said. “So, I have an idea of what it is like, but I’m still nervous.”
Cobb said he plans to use the Christmas break to prepare for his competition at the county level.
Despite what happens at the county bee, Cobb said, “I finally made my goal.”
He is the son of Matt and Christy Cobb.
Fifth grader Cora Wyrosdick won runner-up.