Fillmore Spell Bowl team places in top 10

With five of eight spellers perfect or nearly perfect on the night, Fillmore Elementary School's Spell Bowl team placed in the top 10 of Class 2 with 45 points. Team members include (front, from left) Jared Seidler, Olivia Burton, Emma Cash, Jessie Garcia, Kayla Evans, Julie Garcia, Brandon Alleyn; back, coach Barbara Bennett, Sierra Alleyn, Alyssa Bright, Maddy McHugh, Hanna Heagy and Coach Wendy Danner.

Fillmore Elementary School didn't simply have the top score in Putnam County at last week's Spell Bowl competition -- their good spelling garnered statewide honors.

Competing against not only other regional schools at Central Elementary, Fillmore was up against the 106 other schools in Class 2 across the state.

Their 45 points placed them 10th in the state, as they beat out St. Bartholomew School of Columbus on a tie breaker to make the top 10.

"The kids worked very diligently," Fillmore coach Barbara Bennett said. "They were very well prepared."

Central also competed in Class 2, scoring 33 points on the night. In Class 3, Tzouanakis came home with a 34. In Class 4 Bainbridge scored 33, while Roachdale had a 26.

Classes are determined by a combination of enrollment and grade levels educated at the schools.

Bennett, who shares coaching duties with fellow Fillmore teacher Wendy Danner, said the team began practice back in August, during the second week of school.

In that time, they practiced twice a week from the end of school to 4 p.m., upping the practices to three a week during the final two weeks. In addition, the competitors had weekly homework for Spell Bowl.

"That's above and beyond their (regular) homework," Bennett said. "We always stress that their school work comes first. They are good students academically in addition to their spelling."

Although only eight take part in the competition, Fillmore had 11 team members this year. The team consisted of eight girls -- Sierra Alleyn, Alyssa Bright, Olivia Burton, Emma Cash, Kayla Evans, Julie Garcia, Hanna Heagy and Maddy McHugh -- and three boys -- Brandon Alleyn, Jessie Garcia and Jared Seidler.

The coaches were especially happy at having the three boys, as they've had trouble getting boys out for the team in the past.

"We like to see the young men represented as well," Bennett said.

Bright and Heagy led the Fillmore effort with perfect scores. Near-perfect spellers included Cash, Julie Garcia and Seidler.

"They were very supportive of each other. I think that made a huge difference," Bennett said. "If a child missed one, they would say, 'That's OK, they are doing their best.'"

This is Fillmore's second top 10 finish in five years with Danner and Bennett as coaches.

"They were just a competitive team and they worked hard for that honor," Bennett said. "We are very proud of them."