You could say Emporia Middle School student Holden Wilson felt out of this world when presented a chance to win the 2020 Lyon County Spelling Bee.
Wilson and runner-up Garret Hammond of Olpe Junior High went six rounds of head-to-head competition before Hammond stumbled on the word “grievance” at the end of the 19th overall round of spelling, thus opening the door for Wilson’s win. He says he felt accomplished afterward, and he says he put more time into this spelling bee than others.
Ellie Anderson of Emporia Middle School was third, followed by Aubryn Garriott of Olpe Junior High in fourth place and Bethany De Donder of North Lyon County in fifth.
It’s the second straight year for an Emporia Middle School student to win the spelling bee and the fourth time since 2013 that an EMS student has won. Ethan Rhudy won last year’s event, with Kenji Anderson taking first in 2014 and Tanner Standerwick winning in 2013. Anderson, meanwhile, finished in the top three for the second time in three years. She finished second in 2018.
The spelling bee featured 27 spellers from grades 3-8 across Lyon County. Wilson now represents the county in the Kansas Press Association State Spelling Bee at Newman University on March 21. Hammond is this year’s alternate. The 93rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee is May 24-29.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
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