MANSFIELD – Twenty-six spellers were hungry for the win, but only one, Kansas Huston, an 8th grader from Plymouth, was able to spell her way to the crown with the word “sustenance.”
It took 11 rounds until a champion was finally crowned on Thursday night. Kansas spelled three championship words before she was named Champion of the bee.
The spelling was postponed from Feb. 18 due to snowy weather, but rescheduling and the virtual format did not seem to dim any of the students’ competitive spirit. Twenty-six students, the top spellers in Crawford, Richland and Morrow Counties, representing 10 local school districts, competed in the virtual bee.
The competition included spellers from Highland, Cardington, Lexington, Madison, Galion, Plymouth, Northmor, Ontario, Crestview, and Crestline in grades 4 through 8.
The word of the year “quarantine” was spelled correctly by a participant during the bee. Other words included latitudinarian, paramecium, and brigadier.
Kansas received a trophy and runner-up Danica, a 6th-grader from Lexington that was runner-up, earned a plaque. Every speller took home a certificate. Certificates and awards were provided by the Mansfield News Journal.
Leah Barger, the spelling bee coordinator for Mid-Ohio ESC said the staff gave their hearty congratulations to the champion and runner-up and all of the student spellers.
“We would also like to applaud each district including spelling bee coaches and students spellers for their ability to adapt to a virtual spelling bee and make the 2021 spelling bee season a great success,” Barger said.
