Tops employee Nicole Schell, of Dewitt, has been named a regional finalist in the 31st Annual National Grocers Association Best Baggers competition and will now move on the state competition.

Schell, who works in the DeWitt Tops store, located at 4600 East Genesee St., was the first place winner for the east region of Western New York.

Schell was one of 12 Tops associates who participated in the bagging challenge at the Tops store located at 355 Orchard Park Road in West Seneca on Saturday, Oct. 1. Contestants were scored on speed, proper bag building technique, distribution of weight between bags and style, attitude and appearance. Each associate had the opportunity to bag two rounds, all in reusable bags. The scores for each round were then added together to determine the winners.

Schell will now go on to represent Tops Friendly Markets in the New York State Bagging Competition in Albany on Saturday, Nov. 5. The winner at the state level will then earn a chance to compete at the National Grocer’s Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, this February.