Meriah Kirschstein is spelling champion

Meriah Kirschstein, a seventh-grader, is spelling champion at Springfield Public School. She emerged winner from 16 top spellers — four from each of grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, who participated in the spelling bee Friday afternoon. She is the daughter of Matt and Kathy Kirschstein.

Maddie McCone, a sixth-grader was runnerup. She is the daughter of Charlie and Heidi McCone.

The bee went nine rounds in the single elimination event before Meriah and Maddie McCone were finalists for the championship round. Each correctly spelled their words, bounce and neighbor; then each stumbled on the words forecaster and ritziness; and then Merriah correctly spelled assure, while Maddie stumbled on hobnob, and that gave the edge to Meriah who claimed the championship title by spelling correctly the next word, university.   

The spell-down took place in the school auditorium with classmates and teachers, parents, grandparents and friends in the audience.

The champion advances to the regional spelling bee at South Central College, Mankato, on February 17.

Top spellers at Springfield Public School participated in the local spelling bee — front, from left: fifth-graders Nicholas Peterson, Tate Mathiowetz, James Coffland and Ethan Burden; and sixth-graders, Maddie McCone, Tyler Vanderwerf, Ethan Langseth and Kendall Kelly.  Back: Seventh-graders, Sydney Hauger, Eva Mark, Merriah Kirschstein and Owen Bertram; and eighth-graders, Hunter Mathiowetz, Elijah Kirschstein, Kendal Kopischke and Allison Krueger.