Orange spelling bee champ heads to compete in nationals

An Orange County spelling bee champion is headed to Maryland this weekend to compete on a national level.
Koleton Briecke is a Minisink eighth-grader who is gearing up to compete against hundreds of spelling champions Tuesday at the 91st Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The 13-year-old, from Westtown, was chosen to go after winning the Orange County Spelling Bee in March.
Briecke will be up against more than 500 spellers nationwide.
The competition starts Tuesday and goes until finals on Thursday.