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SOUTH WHITLEY – Fourth-grader Zelda Fogle was named South Whitley Elementary School Spelling Bee Champion Wednesday, correctly spelling brandished and anguish in the championship round of contesting to take the 2026 title.
Thirteen fourth- and fifth-graders began the competition. Ten words got the better of those competing within the first two rounds, leaving three in the spelling bee, according to a news release from Whitko Community Schools.
Fourth-grader Zoie Koons wafted away with a misrepresentation of perfume in round 3, stated the release.
Runner-up Sebastian Jones didn’t make Fogle’s journey to the top an easy one as the fourth-graders began a six round spell down.
In the first championship round, round four, Jones missed hypnosis, Fogle got tuxedo and missed lurches. In round 5, Jones got gusto and Fogle put up prognosis. In rounds six, seven and eight both tripped over their offerings: Jones with gleaned, winsome and galore and Fogle with sequins, fabulous and fluently. In the ninth round Jones was given atrium, and Fogle correctly ordered the letters for brandished and anguish.
Fogle advances to the NE Indiana Regional Qualifier for the Scripps Spelling Bee, which includes an online testing platform to advance to the regional bee.
