Dover student wins Canton Repository spelling bee, advances to national contest
JACKSON TWP. − Four different possible spellings of the winning word bounced around in the head of Bryce Beckley.
After surviving seven rounds and roughly two hours in The Canton Repository's 77th Regional Final Spelling Bee, the 14-year-old Dover Middle School student picked the correct combination of letters he was contemplating and nailed the winning word of anathema.
Requesting the definition, Beckley said it helped him determine the beginning of the word based on its negative meaning (something or someone that is vehemently disliked).
With a smile, the teen admitted he wasn't familiar with the word.
Beckley advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland. He earned an expenses-paid trip to compete in the contest that will be held from May 28 to June 2 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. More than 200 spellers are expected to compete in the national competition, which will be nationally televised.
Placing second was eighth grader Saxon Giumenti of Claymont Junior High School in Uhrischsville; he missed the word meringue in the final round. Third place went to Cecilia Griffin, 11, of Lake Elementary School in Hartville.
Nearly 40 students from Carroll, Holmes, Stark and Tuscarawas counties participated in the spelling bee on Saturday at Kent State University at Stark's Conference Center.
Spellers asked for words to be repeated. Definitions were requested. So was the origin in some cases. Words included homonyms.
Judges were Charita Goshay, columnist at The Canton Repository and Robert Sturr, assistant dean of academic affairs and associate professor of English at Kent State University at Stark. Stephen E. Neaderhiser, assistant professor of English at Kent State University at Stark, served as the pronouncer.
Last year's spelling bee was far longer, totaling 30 rounds and taking about four hours. Winning the 2022 bee was Julianne Liliestedt, 11, of Canton Country Day School − the final word was neolithic.
The students ranged from age 10 to age 14, representing 27 public, six private and four parochial schools. They each won their school’s spelling bee.
Words naturally increased in difficulty as the rounds progressed. And more numbered lanyards were placed on the corner of the judge's table as spellers were eliminated.
Beckley and his parents remembered it well because the Dover pupil just missed out on third place in the 2022 Repository regional spelling bee.
"It was very hard last year," Lyndy Beckley said of the competition.
Added her son, "It gave me more of an idea of what to expect."
"I think it's great that I'll be able to go to (Maryland) and compete," said Beckley, who used a Scripps spelling app on his cellphone to help prepare for the regional bee.
Beckley had to spell two consecutive words correctly in the final round to claim the top trophy and a plaque. Melee was the other word.
As for advancing to the national event, Beckley said he would love to finish among the top 100 spellers from across the country.
Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com
On Twitter @ebalintREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Dover student wins Canton Repository spelling bee, advances to Scripps
