Kennedy fifth grader Lily McGuire wins the county spelling bee
Lily McGuire wins the 2021 Sumner County Spelling Bee. Organizer Cindy Tracy is also pictured.
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Spelling the word “ancestors,” Kennedy fifth grade student Lily McGuire became the 2021 Sumner County Spelling Bee Champion at the Wellington High School auditorium today.
Using a slow, deliberate style to her spelling of the words, McGuire survived the ninth round to defeat 29 other elementary and middle school students. McGuire will now advance to the Sunflower State Spelling Bee to be held sometime in March. Last year’s Sumner County winner, Wellington Middle Schooler Melanie Jayroe, placed sixth in the state-wide competition.
There was a tie for second place. Raelynn Thornton of Wellington Middle School and Belle Plaine Elementary student Berkley Smith finished runner up, missing their word in the eighth round.
The 2021 top three winners were Berkley Smith, Raylynn Thornton and McGuire. (Click to enlarge)
The pronouncer this year was Carol Hadorn and the judges were Pat Zeka, Ruth Cooper and Bob Nusser.
The full participation list is as follows:
Belle Plaine 357
Elementary: Berkley Smith, Jack Geontzel. Middle School: Brody Swaney, Cale Serpan.
Caldwell 360
Elementary: Tuesday Partee, Lauren Doughty. Middle School: Ava Newell, Brecken Hutsler.
Conway Springs
Kyle Trueblood Elementary: Paige Rusco, Johnathan Pauly. Middle School: Gabe Tarrent, Joslin Bartelson.
Oxford 358
Middle School: Parker Gressel, Jack French.
Argonia 359
Middle School: Tori Morrison, Emmah Phillips.
South Haven 509
Middle School: Kody Wartick, Natalie Colwell.
Wellington 353
Christian Academy: Owen Camblin, Natallie Cox.
Eisenhower: Harper Metcalf, Isaac Ledesma.
Kennedy: Tommia Bell, Lily McGuire (winner!)
Lincoln: Peopii Longhofer, Karstin Bannister
Washington: Lucas Fuhrmann, Miles Haskin-Ybarra.
Middle School: Raylynn Thornton, Nathan Coble.
