February 21, 2025
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Daily Chronicle

Genoa-Kingston crowns spelling bee champ

The Genoa-Kingston School District Spelling Bee was held Jan 15 at the Masonic Temple in Genoa. The winner was Sean Abracia-Wendel. He is pictured at right with his parents Lawrence and Marisa Wendel. Tyler Grimm (left) was runner-up. He is pictured next to his mom, Janet Grimm. (Provided photo)

The Genoa Lions invited the 12 finalists in the district spelling bee to dinner on Jan. 21 at the Masonic Temple in Genoa. Three students from fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades were successful in their class spelling bees and ready to spell their way to the regionals to be held at Kishwaukee College in Malta on March 7.

The winner of this year’s Genoa-Kingston Spelling Bee was Sean Abracia-Wendel, a fifth-grader at Genoa Elementary School and the son of Marisa and Lawrence Wendel. He spelled "ultimatum" and "stalwart" correctly to win the competition.

The runner-up place was Tyler Grimm, the son of David and Janet Grimm and an eighth-grader at Genoa-Kingston Middle School.

Dinner was hosted by Lion President Jeff Baker and the Genoa Lions Club, which provided the trophies for the first place winner and runner-up. McDonalds gift cards half of which were donated by the Genoa McDonalds, were given to each participant at the end of the evening.

Superintendent Joe Burgess congratulated the spellers and their parents. Principals John Francis and Angelo Lekkas were there to congratulate the students on their success so far and Lekkas acted as the moderator for the spelling bee. Emily Fowler organized the spelling bee and was assisted in judging by Craig Butcher, dean of students at Genoa Middle School, and Katie Schumacher, sixth-grade teacher at Genoa Middle School.

Fifth-grade participants were Sean Abracia-Wendel, Eagan Reams and Keion Miracle. Sixth-grade participants were Naomi Dutton, Haley Stevenson and Brianna Keegan. Seventh-grade spellers were Alex Barton, Emelie Walton and Joely Overstreet. Eighth-grade spellers were Tyler Grimm and Hannah Temes.