Linton-Stockton Spelling Bee 2024

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Photos by Erica Barker

Linton-Stockton hosted their annual Spelling Bee Wednesday evening in the high school auditeria. Sixth-grader Jane Knight took home first place after over 20 rounds of competition. Fifth-grader Bentley Simmons secured second place as seventh-grader Carson Albright came in third in a tough race to the finish.

Contestants wave to their family, friends and supporters in the audience before kicking off the annual Spelling Bee. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Pronouncer Eli Passen explains the rules before beginning the competition. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fourth-grader Carter Biggs smiles while asking Passen for a definition. Biggs made it to the fourth round before misstepping on "disdain". (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fourth-grader Londyn Sullivan correctly spells her word in the first round. (Photo by Erica Barker)

Fourth-grader Jonas Mittendorf looks to the judges while completing his word. (Photo by Erica Barker)
"Stroll" was correctly spelled by fourth-grader Gracelynn Samm. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fourth-grader Michael Sperling takes a swing at his first word of the competition. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Sixth-grader Briella Bedwell made it to the sixth round of competition Wednesday evening before tripping up on "inscrutable". (Photo by Erica Barker)
In the first round, fourth-grader Victoria Sperling correctly spells the given word. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fifth-grader Brantley Williams focuses during round one. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fifth-grader Bentley Simmons correctly spells "dessert" in the second round. A misstep on "insolent" in the 25th round led to an honorable second-place finish for Simmons. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fifth-grader Silas Dawson looks to Passen for a definition. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Deep in thought, fifth-grader Briar Powell prepares to spell. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Fifth-grader Avah Agan smiles during introductions. Agan went on to make it to the seventh round before missing the word "voracious". (Photo by Erica Barker)
Sixth-grader Jane Knight looks to her fellow competitors during the final rounds of the Bee. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Sixth-grader Hunter Jones, who went to the seventh round but fell short with "bunions", completes his introduction. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Sixth-grader Halle Smith listens intently to the pronouncer. Smith placed fifth in the competition after tripping up on "sultanate" in the ninth round. (Photo by Erica Barker)
A confident and correct spelling of "dapper" in the third round is completed by seventh-grader Carson Albright. Albright placed third Wednesday evening, surviving 20 rounds before misspelling "antechamber". (Photo by Erica Barker)
Seventh-grader Jerek Wathen placed fourth after making it to the tenth round and tripping up on "privilege". (Photo by Erica Barker)
Seventh-grader Davis Bernard correctly spells "bestie" in round two. Bernard made it to the sixth round before misstepping on "delegation". (Photo by Erica Barker)
In the first round, seventh-grader Trent Campbell looks to the judges while spelling his word. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Eighth-grader Kaitlyn Morgan waits for the pronouncer to provide her word. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Eighth-grader Landon Tharp approaches the microphone to spell his word in the first round. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Simmons celebrates after correctly spelling "invisible". (Photo by Erica Barker)
Contestants watch as Bernard completes the first round successfully. (Photo by Erica Barker)
The final five await the next round. From left, Simmons, Knight, Smith, Albright and Wathen. (Photo by Erica Barker)
As realization sets in that she had won the competition, Knight flashes a smile. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Anderson congratulates Simmons on his honorable second-place finish. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Anderson gives Knight a well-deserved pat on the back after her win. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Simmons smiles after the spelling bee... (Photo by Erica Barker)
...and again with his mom. (Photo by Erica Barker)
Knight poses with her family after her win. From left, mom Jennifer Knight, sister Grace, Jane and brother Isaac. (Photo by Erica Barker)