May 23, 2025
Local News

Age no obstacle for winner: Fifth-grader casts spell over field

By ILENE HALUSKA

Paige Myroth, a fifth-grader at Tilton Elementary School in Rochelle, reacts to her chance to spell the last word correctly and win Thursday’s Lee/Ogle Regional Spelling Bee in the Dixon High School Auditorium. Myroth correctly spelled “paradox” to become the first fifth-grader to win in the event’s 36 years. She will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee June 2-4 in Washington, D.C. Looking on are Caidin Kloepping (left) of Forreston Junior High School and Christopher Rademacher (right) of Centennial Elementary in Polo. (Alex T)

DIXON – To hear Paige Myroth describe it, spelling is as easy as she made it look Thursday.

"If you don't know the word, just spell it like it sounds, like I did with that 'junco' word and 'paradox,'" said Myroth, who won Thursday's Lee/Ogle County Regional Spelling Bee in the Dixon High School Auditorium.

Myroth wasn't just the winner Thursday. She was the first fifth-grader to win the regional bee in its 36 years. Myroth, who said "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" is one of her favorite shows, bested a field of 28 competitors who won their local school bees.

Myroth, also the first winner from Tilton Elementary School in Rochelle, prevailed after nine rounds by correctly spelling "implement," then "paradox."

Becky Myroth said her daughter's Academic Enrichment (AE) Program for advanced students has the kids reading a lot of books, some "very thick with a lot of words." She and three AE classmates were there to watch Paige win.

Paige practiced with her mom for about a half-hour every day for the past week. They worked on foreign words, and went online to the Scripps Spelling Bee Web site, where words are sounded out.

"We didn't have the 2010 list [of words] until last week," Becky said.

Paige wasn't the only history-maker Thursday. The three other finalists ended up in a tie for second place, a first for the competition. Scripps and Regional Office of Education guidelines call for a coin flip, rather than a spell-off, to settle ties between two contestants. With three of the four finalists misspelling words in the ninth round Thursday, their placing was determined by drawing names from a bowl.

ROE Superintendent Amy Jo Clemens plans to evaluate the rule for future spell-offs. The second-place designation is important, as it is the alternate participant in the Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 2-4 in Washington, D.C.

Christopher Rademacher, a fifth-grader at Polo's Centennial Elementary School, won the draw for second place. Nicholas Siemers, a Paw Paw Junior High School eighth-grader, finished third. Forreston Junior High School eighth-grader Caiden Kloepping was fourth.

In addition to winning a trip for two to compete in the national bee, Paige won a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, a Webster's Unabridged Third New International Dictionary, and an online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Thursday's bee was sponsored by the Telegraph, 1st National Bank in Amboy and Lee/Ogle Regional Office of Education.

Winners and prizes

Winners and prizes in Thursday's Lee/Ogle Regional Spelling Bee:

Winner: Paige Myroth, fifth grade, Tilton Elementary School, Rochelle (Wins an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, a $100 U.S. savings bond, a 1-year online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica and a copy of Webster's Third New International Dictionary.)

Second Place: Christopher Rademacher, fifth grade, Centennial Elementary School, Polo (Ultra Flip II digital camera, a 1-year online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)

Third Place: Nicholas Siemers, eighth grade, Paw Paw Junior High School (A 1-year online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, and a $20 amazon.com gift certificate)

Fourth Place: Caidin Kloepping, eighth grade, Forreston Junior High School (a $20 amazon.com gift certificate)

All participants receive "The Book of World Records 2010" and a trophy.