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Ashley Wireman of Edgewood Middle School claimed the winner's title Tuesday, the second night of the Kosciusko County spelling bee, for the second year in a row, spelling "ludicrous" and "imperceptible" correctly.
Brent Danner, of Wawasee Middle School, was the runner up.
Six seventh- and eighth-graders competed in the spell-out, which lasted 10 rounds. The event was held in the First United Methodist Church and sponsored by the Times-Union and WRSW. Tonight's finalist will participate in the Fort Wayne district contest later this spring.
Wireman, 14, is the daughter of Sandra and Greg Wireman.
Danner, 12, son of Nancy and Tom Danner, lasted seven rounds, missing "ludicrous" in the eighth.
Four other middle school students participated in Tuesday night's competition. Brandon Fruit, 13, son of Michelle Keplinger and David Fruit, went out on "terrific" in round three; Nicholas Smith of Whitko Middle School missed "satirical" in round four; and a misspelling of "delirious" by Seth Blakeslee, 13, son of Vivian and John Blakeslee, and "sorcerer" by Jenna Thomas, 14, daughter of Victoria Thomas, narrowed the contest to two in the fifth round.
Dr. Paulette Sauders, professor of English and journalism at Grace College, was the pronouncer for the bee. Judges were Julie Galle, Chris Powell and Emily Mathisen, also from Grace College.
