Eric Shoner, a seventh-grader at Salmon Bay School, got a taste of state competition last Friday at the 2009 Washington Geographic Bee at Stadium High School in Tacoma.

Shoner, for whom maps have been a hobby since he was 3, was one of six contestants in his preliminary round who was perfect through the first five questions. He succumbed to the next three, however, and did not advance.

Of the 20 students in his group, only one made it to the final 10; 101 students from throughout the state qualified for the event.

The bee is promoted by the National Geographic Society and sponsored by nationally Google and the timber resources company, Plum Creek.