MANSFIELD, Ohio — Maggie Sheridan proudly waved her first place trophy over her head after correctly spelling “portcullis” to win the Tri-County Spelling Bee on Thursday night.
The Lexington sixth grader outlasted 33 other contestants, who represented schools in Crawford, Morrow and Richland counties.
“I was just so nervous,” Sheridan said. “Every time I went up I was like, ‘This might be the word I go out on.'”
In the last few rounds, she went head-to-head with Crestview seventh grader, Izach Littlefield. She misspelled “solder” in the 15th round, but was able to come back in the 17th round after Littlefield misspelled “allegory” for the win.
“I was just so excited that I got another chance,” she said.
Sheridan said she practices with her sister, Katie, who placed third in the spelling bee.
Katie made it to the twelfth round before being eliminated, and Maggie won the bee in the 19th round.
When asked about any strategies that they utilize, Maggie said, “I don’t know. We just spell our hearts out.”
Katie said she’s proud of her sister for winning.
Maggie, along with seven other spellers from the tri-county bee, will compete in a regional spelling bee March 19 in Athens to see if they can qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“I’m excited for the chance to be in another spelling bee because I just love spelling so much,” she said.
Jennifer Pennell, spelling bee coordinator, commented, “I think we had a really competitive bunch of kids this year.
“I was really impressed with the level of dedication that a lot of these students have in preparing.”
The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center sponsored and hosted the event. Mansfield News Journal also served as a sponsor.
Below is a list of the Tri-County Spelling Bee participants.
Crawford County:
- Jayleen Spaulding, fifth grader at Buckeye Central Local
- Allison Fraser, fifth grader at Bucyrus City
- Gunner Hofer, eighth grader at Bucyrus City
- Malia Posey, fourth grader at Bucyrus City
- Alex Wion, seventh grader at Bucyrus City
- Macie Dicus, eighth grader at Colonel Crawford Local
- Hope Sharp, eighth grader at Colonel Crawford Local
- Marley Adams, seventh grader at Galion City
- Regin Kuehlman, sixth grader at Galion City
- Caleb Strack, eighth grader at Galion City
- Max Phillips, seventh grader at St. Bernard
Morrow County:
- Madison Brehm, seventh grader at Cardington-Lincoln Local
- Abby Devore, eighth grader at Cardington-Lincoln Local
- Devin Gheen, seventh grader at Cardington-Lincoln Local
- Makenzie Hart, sixth grader at Cardington-Lincoln Local
- Megan Moller, fourth grader at Cardington-Lincoln Local
- Madison Cecil, eighth grader at Highland Local
- Bruce Jordan, eighth grader at Highland Local
- Aaron Vannatter, eighth grader at Highland Local
- Izzy Chambers, fifth grader at Mt. Gilead Exempted Village
- Monica Lawrence, eighth grader at Mt. Gilead Exempted Village
- Luke Young, fifth grader at Mt. Gilead Exempted Village
- Lucas Weaver, fifth grader at Northmor Local
Richland County:
- Izach Littlefield, seventh grader at Crestview Local
- Katie Sheridan, sixth grader at Lexington Local
- Maggie Sheridan, sixth grader at Lexington Local
- Caitlin Bogner, eighth grader at Madison Local
- Seth Workman, seventh grader at Mansfield Christian
- Adam Knox, seventh grader at Mansfield St. Mary
- Jason Lin, eighth grader at Ontario Local
- Isaac Swogger, seventh grader at Ontario Local
- Courtney Picklesimer, seventh grader at Plymouth-Shiloh Local
- Carmen DeVito, seventh grader at Shelby City
- Hunter Hannan, seventh grader at Temple Christian
