Fair Haven’s PJ Rawlins has been dubbed the spelling champ of Knollwood School and is headed to a regional competition.

The seventh grader won the Knollwood School Annual Spelling Bee on Jan. 31. By spelling the final word “feckless” correctly, he claimed first place in the school-wide competition for fourth- through eighth-grade students.

Competing along with PJ were eighth grader Alex Fratto, sixth grader Will Ross, fifth grader Michael DeFazio, and fourth grader Kate Cusick. The students were selected through competitions at the classroom and grade levels leading up to the school-wide spelling bee.

“I am amazed by our participants’ study skills,” said Knollwood School Principal Amy Romano. “This year, we had to dig deeper for more difficult words. I am impressed by all of our participants. Congratulations to all.”

Next up for PJ is county-level competition in the Regional Spelldown to be held on March 13 at Monmouth University.

— Edited press release from the Fair Haven School District