Allen County Students showcase spelling skills in 35th County Spelling Bee

LIMA, Oh (WLIO) - Allen County students put their mental muscle to the test in the 35th Allen County Spelling Bee.

“Financial” was the winning word for Delphos St. John’s sixth grader Grant Schwinnen, who spelled it correctly to claim victory in the countywide competition. Schwinnen competed against 15 other students from Allen County elementary and middle schools. Schwinnen, whose favorite subject is math, put in the effort to prepare for Saturday’s competition.

“I studied with my dad. He circles like the ones that I get wrong, and then I just study them,” says Grant Schwinnen, sixth grade, Delphos St. John.

"What about spelling do you like?" The reporter asked.

“I don't know, just like all the words. It's fun,” adds Schwinnen.

Each student had to win their respective school’s spelling bee to qualify for the long-running competition. Their preparation was evident, as it took multiple rounds to determine a winner.

“I think last year we had maybe nine or 10 rounds, and this year we're into the 24th, maybe even the 25th round. We went 14 rounds without the four spellers missing a word. So, it was just a tremendous accomplishment, and it's just a tremendous display of spelling ability on the part of these kids,” says Brad Clark, gifted coordinator at the Allen County Educational Service Center.

In addition to a plaque, Schwinnen received a $100 gift card for his victory. Here are the winners and runners-up from each school’s spelling bees:

• Bath Elementary:  Kyati Singh, 4^th grade– Winner/ Margaret Brown, 4^th grade – Runner-up
• Bath Middle School: Caleb Blackston, 7^th grade - Winner/ Knox Opperman, 7^th grade – Runner-up
• Bluffton Middle School: Marissa Dennis, 8^th grade – Winner/ Elijah Lewis, 8^th grade – Runner-up
• Delphos Franklin – Chanley Brenneman, 4^th grade – Winner/ Isla Martin, 4^th grade – Runner-up
• Delphos Jefferson – James Ridenour, 6^th grade – Winner/ Kynlee Geary, 7^th grade – Runner-up
• Delphos St. John’s – Grant Schwinnen, 6^th grade – Winner/ Isabelle Miller, 8^th grade – Runner-up
• Elida Middle School – Mason Cunningham, 8^th grade – Winner/ Roslin Snyder, 7^th grade – Runner-up
• Liberty Christian – Grace Bradley, 5^th grade – Winner/ Sylas Myers, 5^th grade – Runner-up
• Perry Elementary – Terra Brown-Dawson, 6^th grade – Winner/ Ezra Cox, 4^th grade – Runner-up
• Perry Junior High – Owen Crisenbery, 7^th grade – Winner/ Jayden Clavell, 8^th grade – Runner-up
• St. Charles – Rylee Williams, 5^th grade – Winner
• St. Gerard – Tegan Songco, 5^th grade – Winner/ CaVaeyah Haithcox, 7^th grade – Runner-up
• St. Rose – Jax Lane, 6^th grade – Winner/ Caityn Adams, 8^th grade – Runner-up
• Shawnee Middle School – Jason Chukwuma-Eze, 5^th grade – Winner/ Inioluwa Balogun, 5^th grade – Runner-up
• Spencerville Middle School – Lena Whetstone, 7^th grade – Winner/ Leah Riffle, 5^th grade – Runner-up
• Temple Christian – Gracie Finch, 5^th grade – Winner/ AJ DeVita, 4^th grade – Runner-up