St. Edwards' Mary Hamilton takes champion title at Ashland County Spelling Bee
A St. Edwards School eighth grade student correctly spelled the word "nictitate" to oust her classmate and runner-up and be named the 2024 Ashland County Spelling Bee champion.
Mary Hamilton took the title Tuesday evening after 17 rounds, the last few with friend and fellow St. Edwards School student Solomon Prigozen, who took the runner-up position.
There were 17 spellers from six Ashland County Schools who participated in the Bee held at the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center. There originally were 22 students selected to compete, but five dropped out.
The event kicked off at 6:30 p.m. with the word "brick." Students quickly went back an fourth with words until the final five contestants remained.
Mary and Solomon went up against each other for five rounds before Mary came out victoriously after spelling the final word, "nictitate," which means to open and close quickly.
Amelia Ashley from Mapleton Elementary School placed third and Hillsdale's Gage Barcus finished in fourth place.
Mary was the runner-up for the 2023 Ashland County Spelling Bee.
She said she and Solomon prepared together for the Bee.
"We practiced three days a week," she said.
Mary also said she didn't expect to have to go head-to-head against Solomon during the contest.
"I was very surprised," she said.
Mary said she only recognized one of the words Solomon had to spell.
After placing second last year, Mary was ready to push herself this time around.
"I set a goal for myself this year," she said, noting it was her last year to participate in the Bee.
She said she practiced at home with her parents, Terry and Angie Hamilton, by using Word Club, which is the Scripps National Spelling Bee preparation app. The app was introduced in 2020 and has been a helpful tool for students to prepare for the spelling bees.
"No matter where we were going, the grocery store or a restaurant, she was on it," Angie Hamilton said. "And at home, we'd ask her."
The app gives the pronunciation of a word and would tells her if she was right or wrong.
In regard to advice for future contestants, Mary said it helps to study a lot.
"Don't stress yourself out too much," she said. "Because it literally just depends on the word."
Mary added she enjoys doing the Spelling Bee. "I'm just super surprised," she said.
Solomon also said he and Mary have became good friends since being in school together. He added he was nervous to go against her.
Judges were Andrew Johnson, gifted and talented consultant at Tri-County Educational Service Centr; Kris Pipes-Perone, director of curriculum and instruction/special education at Tri-County ESC; and Dough Marrah, executive director of Tri-County Computer Services.
Victoria Birk, the International Baccalaureate program coordinator at Tri-County ESC, was the pronouncer.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Mary Hamilton wins Ashland Spelling Bee, Solomon Prigozen is second
