Wantagh Eighth Grader Takes Home Geography Bee Win

WANTAGH, NY. — Wantagh Middle School student Ahsan Saleem was all over the map Thursday, taking home a victory in the school’s annual geography bee. It was a return to the mountaintop for Saleem, who also won the bee in sixth grade and finished in second last year.

The bee was contested by nearly two-dozen middle schoolers from grades six through eight, with preliminary rounds taking place in social studies classes before winners went on to the final rounds in the library. In those final rounds, Wantagh teacher David Cippoletti asked students questions about countries, national parks and states. In the double-elimination tournament, students were able to remain in contention until they gave two incorrect answers.

For six competitors, that meant staying in the bee for eight rounds. From those six, Saleem emerged victorious. Tied for second place were Thomas Boger, Lucas Diliberto, Aidan Ing, Taha Laghroudi and Mohitpreet Singh.

The geography bee has been a tradition for two decades at Wantagh, originally connected to a nationwide National Geographic event until that event was discontinued six years ago. Wantagh has continued holding the bee yearly even after the television network discontinued its support.