Ranitha Kumarasinghe, a sixth-grader from Orange Grove Charter Middle School in Charleston, South Carolina, raised his arms in triumph when he spelled his winning word, "topeng," with confidence. He credits nightly study sessions with his parents in helping him win the SpellBound Regional Spelling Bee, sponsored by The Post and Courier.
Matthew Dufour, a fifth-grader at Superior Intermediate School in Ashtabula, Ohio, won the Browns Give Back Tri-County Spelling Bee in Cleveland. Matthew will represent Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula counties at the national finals. The Cleveland Browns organization joins the Tennessee Titans as the two NFL teams supporting local spelling bee programs.
Nathan Estep is the youngest in his family of talented spellers. His win at the regional spelling bee in Winchester, Virginia, makes it five Estep siblings to earn nine total trips to the national finals. He is in the eighth grade and his home-schooled. The regional event is sponsored by the Kids Clubs of Northern Shenandoah Valley.
By winning the Columbiana County Spelling Bee in Lisbon, Ohio, Justus Black, a sixth-grader from Southern Local Schools, became the fourth member of his family to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He outlasted his older brother, Silas, who was in the national finals last year. Justus wore his lucky T-shirt on his first try at the regional event, which he won with "rhetoric."
Robert Gorlach, an eighth-grade student at Piedmont Community Charter School in Gastonia, North Carolina, won The Gaston Gazette Spelling Bee on his first appearance at the regional level. He clinched the title with two consecutive words: “intensify” and “broaches.” He prepared by reviewing words with his father over the past several months.
Chloe Holoman, an eighth-grader from Royalton, Minnesota, is the first from her school to win the Lakes Spelling Bee. She admits her toughest word was "persistent," but her championship word was "einkorn.” There were 30 participants in the Central Minnesota competition, and Chloe won in the 10th round.
Brooke Danz, a fifth-grader from Riverwood Elementary School in McHenry, Illinois, battled both a bad cold and challenging words to become the McHenry County Spelling Bee champion. Brooke zipped through 31 rounds and finally spelled "topeng" to win the title and a trip to the national finals.
Samhita Kumar, a seventh-grader from Winston Churchill Middle School in Carmichael, California, correctly spelled "osphresis" to earn a repeat trip to Washington, D.C., where she will once again try to advance to the Finals. She is the two-time champion of the California Central Valley Spelling Bee, sponsored by The Sacramento Bee newspaper.
Wait till you hear the Buzz from the Bee!! There are trophies in the house!
Iann Leigh, an eighth-grader at James F. Doughty School in Bangor, Maine, remained humble even though his winning word at the Penobscot County Spelling Bee was “braggadocio.” He said he was excited to win and earn a trip to the national finals. He competed with 34 other spellers in the four-hour-long contest at Husson University.