Buchanan County crowns spelling bee champion

By Chris Fortune

Entering with modest expectations appeared to be the key to success in the Buchanan County spelling bee for the top two finishers this year.

The event featured 100 kids representing 23 schools in Buchanan County. Kids from fifth to eighth grade competed, and about three hours later, a seventh grader was named champion and an eighth grader finished runner-up. Both will head to regionals on March 2.

Runner-up Devin DeSpain represented Truman Middle School, and believed he would be eliminated in one of the first two rounds.

“One of my friends, who was, like, higher up in the original spelling bee, got out on that round, so I guess I was lucky there,” he said.

DeSpain outperformed his expectations, but is still modest heading into the regional spelling bee. He said he looks forward to doing the best he can.

Spelling bee winner Owen Herzog represented St. Joseph Christian School. Herzog wanted to finish in the top 10, but he was not sure if he came in prepared enough to accomplish the goal.

“I wanted to get, like, top ten, but with how much I practiced, I might not have gotten quite that high,” he said.

Herzog practiced every other night for about an hour for about two weeks, heading into the spelling bee. His parents stated how proud they were, and they may have been more nervous than he was in the competition.

“It’s really exciting, we’re very, very proud,” Sarah Herzog said. “And it was a nail-biter, so we’re coming down from the nerves.”

Owen’s father, Jake Herzog, said the nerves were plenty to deal with.

“We (Jake and Sarah) were videoing, and texting back and forth, and praying before every word,” he said. “It was a good time.”

The regional spelling bee will be held on March 2 at emPowerU at 518 S. 6th St.