The Blog

Junior High Students Excel at Merrick County Spelling Bee

On Wednesday, February 18th, four junior high NC students participated in the Merrick County Junior High Spelling Bee. The students who qualified were Ben Janssen, Jayden Leonard, Bennett Zaruba, and Jake Twogood, with Seth Hower as an alternate. Five Merrick County schools participated in the spelling bee: Central City Public, Palmer, Zion Lutheran, Chapman, and Nebraska Christian. Each school sent four junior high students to represent them for a total of 20 contestants.

The first round was a written test with 50 spelling words. To make it to the next round, the student could only miss eighteen or fewer words. Thirteen of the twenty students who participated qualified for the next round; all four NC students qualified. Ben Janssen received the top score on the written test, missing only one word.

The second round was an oral round. One by one, students were eliminated when they missed a word. Once there were only two students left, they were given two words in a row each time. The two remaining students were NC students Jayden Leonard and Jake Twogood. After going back and forth for fifteen minutes, Jake earned the first place trophy, with Jayden earning a close second.

“Traditionally, our students at NC have done very well at the spelling competition; we have had some very gifted spellers,” said Junior High English Teacher and Spelling Coach Mrs. Janice Stuhmer. “It’s really hard because if you make one error, you’re out. It’s anybody’s game.”

As a result of the win, Jake Twogood qualified for the State Spelling Bee competition in Omaha.