McHenry Co. 8th Grader Wins Regional Spelling Bee, Heads to Nationals

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Vincent Brendel, an eighth-grader at St. Mary Catholic School in Woodstock, has won the 2026 McHenry County Regional Spelling Bee, earning a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., this May.

Brendel secured thechampionship by correctly spelling “lorikeet,” a species of parrot native to Australia, during the competition held on March 18 at Bernotas Middle School in Crystal Lake, according to media reports.

This marks Brendel’s fourth appearance in the regional contest, and he will now compete against top spellers from across the country at the national bee, scheduled for May 26 to 28, according to the article.

To help cover the cost of sending Vincent to the national championship, the ROE is seeking sponsors. Interested individuals or businesses can find more information on the McHenry County website.