Stemen 2015 County Spelling Bee champ

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

Kirsten Stemen was so overwhelmed by her win last night at the Van Wert County Spelling Bee that she had forgotten her winning word five minutes after the contest ended.

For the record, it was “bambino.”

Prior to that, she had correctly spelled “rucksack” to advance to the final word and edge out runner-up Una VanWynsberghe.

After a spell-off to determine the third-place winner, Kylee Mongold knocked out Grace Doctor and Dylann Carey to claim third place.

It was a clean sweep and home run for Lincolnview Local Schools, as the top three finishers all attend Lincolnview. Stemen, the daughter of Andy and Jennifer Stemen is a seventh-grader at the school, while VanWynsberghe, daughter of Dewey and Rachel VanWynsberghe, is a fifth-grader and Mongold, daughter of Keith and Cheryl Mongold, is in the eighth grade.

With VanWynsberghe and Stemen the only spellers left on the stage, the two battled back and forth for several rounds. Stemen had an opportunity to put it away when VanWynsberghe misspelled “periscope” but she then fumbled the word “admiral.”

VanWynsberghe then stumbled on “manicure” before Stemen correctly spelled the final two words to claim the win. Although disappointed, VanWynsberghe was gracious in defeat and happy for her Lancer counterpart.

“I think I might not have heard the word right,” she said, and added that she was happy the finalists were all from Lincolnview.

Mongold agreed with VanWynsberghe on the Lincolnview dominance, and said she would be happy to assist Stemen in studying for the regional spelling bee to take place in March in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “I will be there with her every step of the way,” Mongold added.

All three girls said they studied diligently for the Van Wert County bee, and Stemen knows there is more book time ahead.

“I’m going to study even harder, if that’s even possible,” she noted, adding, “I studied for hours for this.”

Teachers, parents and supporters got behind the spellers as well, offering their time and expertise. Sandra Freeman, Western Buckeye Educational Service Center representative and bee coordinator, thanked those in attendance for their time and sacrifices in helping the spellers get to that point.

“I want to thank all of you for supporting these youngsters sitting behind me here this evening,” Freeman said, adding, “I know the work you all have done to prepare for this evening so thank you again.”

The win was especially sweet for Stemen, who received some good old-fashioned sibling rivalry before the bee.

“Yeah, my brother told me I was going to fail,” she said with a laugh. “Hah!”

Mark Schumm, representing Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, sponsors of the evening’s awards, congratulated all of the spellers for a job well done.

“You are all already winners for being up here,” Schumm said. “We know how much work goes into this and these are our future community leaders and Van Wert Federal is proud to be a part of it.”

Emcee for the evening was Becky Diglia, curriculum coordinator at Western Buckeye ESC, while Doug Grooms, school psychologist for Van Wert City Schools, served as pronouncer.
Judges were Lincolnview Elementary Principal Nita McKinney, Crestview Program Services Director Keith Rydell and Sarah White, Van Wert Middle School guidance counselor.

Other contestants in the spelling bee were Hayden Tomlinson, Carson Kreischer, Trinity Snyder, Dylann Carey, Sonny Chorvas, Annie Renner, KeAndre Blythe, Grace Doctor, Angel Haller and Joey Schaufelberger.