More than 30 spellers take Ottawa stage

What does mahatma, benzene, ravioli, hacienda, babushka and sturgeon have in common?

They were all final words in the La Salle, Marshall and Putnam Regional Bee going back to 2013.

At least 32 spellers will vie for the 59th regional bee title at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Ottawa High School Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. An alternative date is set Saturday, Feb. 16, in case of inclement weather.

The winner of the regional bee will then compete Friday, March 22, in the Grand Finals at WEEK TV Studios in East Peoria.

The Stretch Miller Memorial Spelling Bee traveling plaque will be presented to the first-place winner's school for one year. The plaque has a space for engraving the year, name and school of each annual winner.

Shea Rathburn brought the trophy home to Peru Parkside Elementary last year by spelling "paprika" and "mahatma" correctly for her final words.

Runner-up Riker Fesperman, an eighth-grader at Waltham Elementary, will once again compete in this year's bee.

The first-place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, a $200 cash prize provided by the William Ieuter Trust and a first-place plaque.

Second prize will be a $50 gift certificate to Prairie Fox Books, a $100 cash prize provided by the William Ieuter Trust and a second-place plaque.

Ottawa Kiwanis Club also provided prizes.

The pronouncer will be Rick Koshko of WCMY radio. Judges are Diane and Lloyd Chapman, and Judy Wilkinson. Organizing the bee, Jessica Haywood, of the Regional Office of Education, is the event coordinator, and Regional Superintendent Chris Dvorak and Assistant Regional Superintendent Matt Winchester are event chairmen.

Past six winners:

2018: Shea Rathburn, Peru Parkside, mahatma

2017: Levi Maierhofer, Milton Pope, benzene

2016: Shelby Dovin, Grand Ridge, ravioli

2015: Mary Kate Jagiella, Peru Catholic, hacienda

2014: Drew Klatt, Wallace, babushka

2013: Ram Koganti, Wallace, sturgeon

2019 District winners:

Allen-Otter Creek, Ransom: Denver Trainor, 7th (Kadence Ondrey, 8th)

Central Intermediate, Ottawa: Angelo Lemes, 6th (Selena Gomez, 6h)

Deer Park, Ottawa: TBA

Dimmick: Easton Moncrief, 8th (Morgan Hoscheid, 6th)

Earlville: Darlene Sparks, 8th (Diego Vazquez, 8th)

Grand Ridge: Franchesca Rodriguez, 8th (Ben Domoleczney, 8th)

Henry-Senachwine: Hayli Welch, 6th (Brendan Lester, 7th)

Holy Family, Oglesby: Johnathon Hackney, 8th (Grace Newman, 6th)

Leland: Rylie Donahue, 6th

Lincoln, La Salle: Anthony Taylor, 8th (Angel Madara, 6th)

Lincoln, La Salle: Stephanie Funfsinn, 8th

Lostant: Makenzie Chambers, 8th (Spencer Samek, 7th)

Marquette, Ottawa: Payton Anderson, 6th (Rylee Giffin, 7th)

Marseilles: Arthur Palicki, 7th (Corey Medina, 7th)

Midland, Sparland: Madison Bare, 8th (Desiree Williams, 8th)

Milton Pope, Marseilles: Carter Snook, 8th (Calvin Maierhofer, 8th)

Northbrook, Mendota: Jenah Sims, 7th (Melaina Bierwirth, 8th)

Northlawn, Streator: Xavier Lantz, 8th

Northlawn, Streator: Ryan Beck, 6th

Parkside, Peru: Aubry Hawkins, 8th (Petranella Mitchell, 8th)

Parkside, Peru: Katie Keating, 8th

Peru Catholic: Maggie Kishler, 8th (Gianna Grivetti, 8th)

Putnam County: Neveah Goulding, 7th (Lisa Myres, 6th)

Rutland, Ottawa: Ethan Lehman, 6th (Brooklyn Hughes, 8th)

Seneca: Alex Ford, 8th (Nathaniel Spinkel, 6th)

Seneca: Ava Rosengren, 6th (Audree Tanas, 6th)

Shepherd, Ottawa: Corinne Francis, 8th (Ava Downey, 8th)

Shepherd, Ottawa: Matthew Towne, 7th (Xochitl Gutierrez, 7th)

Tonica: Phillip Gray, 6th (Ava Lambert, 7th)

Trinity Catholic, La Salle: Megan Olson, 6th (Lily Rauh, 8th)

Wallace, Ottawa: Layne Krug, 7th (Rodolfo School, 6th)

Walthan, Utica: Riker Fesperman, 8th (Aiden Harmon, 7th)

Washington, Oglesby: Faith Arkins, 7th