ASHTABULA – Youth ruled the day at the Ashtabula County Spelling Bee on Feb. 10, as a fourth grader from Gateway Elementary School in the Conneaut Area City School District won the coveted trophy.
After eight rounds with fellow contestants at the Educational Service Center in Ashtabula, Sully Kreger, 9, of Conneaut, made it alone to Championship Round 9, in which he spelled the word “stucco” correctly.
He came out on top, beating six other competitors that included another fourth grader, a fifth grader, two seventh graders and two eighth graders.
“I didn’t think I would win, but I’m happy,” Sully said as he held his trophy. He was excited.
His mother, Diana, said that with eighth graders in the contest, she told Sully to do the best he could. The thought of competing against students as much as four grades ahead of him made him anxious.
“I was very nervous,” he said.
Winning, he said, made him feel very good.
Much preparation went into getting Sully ready for the spelling bee.
“We practiced almost every single night,” Diana said, noting they used flashcards.
They were looking forward to taking the trophy to Conneaut.
“We’re very excited,” Diana said. “And onward to the tri-county.”
Sully planned on putting his prize in his room.
Sully’s teacher, Stephanie Mischka, was thrilled by Sully’s win, calling it “incredible” and “unbelievable.”
“But I knew he could do it,” she said. “He’s a fantastic speller. He just takes his time, and he works hard.”
She thought he represented Gateway Elementary School well.
They planned on celebrating his victory in some way.
“We’ll think of something,” she said.
Ellyana Shipley, a Grade 5 student at Grand Valley Middle School in Grand Valley Local School District, was the runner-up.
The school district gave her kudos on its Facebook page.
“Congratulations to Ellyana Shipley!” the post read. “She was Runner Up at the Ashtabula County Spelling Bee! We are very proud of you!”
The other contestants were: Scarlet Dolezal, a Grade 4 student from Buckeye Local School District; Alyssa Miller, a Grade 8 student from Geneva Area City School District; Nick Dreis, a Grade 8 student from Jefferson Area Local School District; Autumn Smithhisler, a Grade 7 student from Pymatuning Valley Local School District; and Elliana Frasure, a Grade 7 student from St. John School. Jessie Sanchez Lozano, a Grade 8 student from Ashtabula Area City School District, was unable to attend.
Now, Sully will advance to the Tri-County Spelling Bee at 9:30 a.m. on March 6 at the ESC of the Western Reserve in Concord Township, Lake County. Students from Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties will take part in the competition.
Then, the winner from that competition will advance to the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
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