Reigning Champ Hangs On To Spelling Bee Crown

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A young speller extraordinaire has held onto his championship crown.

Southampton Intermediate School eighth-grader Riley Herrmann won first place in the school’s annual spelling bee on Jan. 10., the district said.

Riley also took first place in last year’s competition as a seventh-grader. He will now represent his school at the Long Island Regional Scripps Spelling Bee, to be held later this year, district officials added.

To score the win, Riley competed against 32 of his peers, including runner-up Dhivya Sampath.

Photo courtesy of the Southampton School District.