The annual Spelling Bee Championship ended in a tie as third grade finalists went back and forth for over 40 minutes live on SAM 96.7 FM on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Fox Radio Network.

Delanie Faughn of Oak Grove and Ramiz Mirza of O’Neal were this year’s winners, completing all 116 words. Seraphin Wykowski of Eugene Field also made it to the championship round. 

“That was the most suspenseful one yet,” commented moderator Lee Spilberg of the Butler County Community Resource Council.

The third graders, who said they were studying the words the previous evening as well as the morning of the competition, could be seen silently mouthing the letters as their opponent was on the microphone. 

The spell-off is sponsored by the CRC’s Children and Youth Succeeding in School Committee in partnership with Fox Radio.

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Cutline: Spelling Bee winners Ramiz Mirza and Delanie Faughn compete in the championship round.