Ice in Her Veins: Fifth Grader Triumphs at Kalamazoo Spelling Bee
A Young Champion’s Journey at the Kalamazoo Regional Spelling Bee
In a thrilling display of skill and composure, Heron Bothwell, a fifth grader from Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School, emerged as the 2026 Kalamazoo Regional Spelling Bee champion. The event took place on Saturday, March 21, at Chenery Auditorium, where Heron impressed judges and spectators alike with her correct spelling of the word “espousal.”
Heron’s victory was not the result of intense studying, as she admitted she didn’t prepare much for the competition. Her initial goal was simply to win the spelling bee at her school, which she successfully did. This achievement earned her a spot in the regional competition, where 42 winners and runners-up from various school spelling bees competed.
A Calm and Confident Performer
When Heron stepped onto the stage alongside other spellers in grades four through eight, she remained unshaken. “I thought I’d get out pretty early,” she said, reflecting on her initial expectations. However, as the rounds progressed, Heron continued to spell words correctly, showcasing her confidence and focus.
The runner-up, Orion Bailey, a seventh grader at Hillside Middle School, had an impressive run until he misspelled “Adirondack” after being perfect through the first six rounds. Heron’s calm demeanor and steady performance were praised by her mother, Anna Bothwell. “She’s got ice in her veins,” Anna said, highlighting Heron’s natural poise.
Heron’s experience as a musician also played a role in her ability to stay composed on stage. “She has experience being on stage,” Anna added, noting that this background helped her daughter handle the pressure of the competition.
A Passion for Words and Learning
During an interview on stage after her win, Heron shared her favorite word to spell: “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,” a rare lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. She also mentioned that her favorite subjects are math and science, though she enjoys English as well.
Heron will now compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 26 through May 28 in Washington, D.C. While she plans to study more before the national competition, her recent success at the regional level has already set a strong foundation for her future endeavors.
A Look at the Competitors
Josiah Loehrke, now a sixth grader at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts, was the previous year’s champion. He advanced to the fifth round of this year’s competition as one of the final 12 spellers. Four of the final six spellers were eliminated in the sixth round, including Kai Miller, Deborah Agyemang, Jonah Antoniotti, and Savannah Kelley.
The spelling bee was open to all school districts in Kalamazoo County, offering students across the region a chance to showcase their spelling abilities. Below is the list of spellers who qualified for the event:
Qualified Spellers
- Amiliya Johnson – Arcadia Elementary School
- Gul Naz Rahimi – Arcadia Elementary School
- Damiya Anderson – Edison Academy
- Ayden Lewis – Edison Academy
- Kai Miller – El Sol Elementary School
- Katharine Strong-Morse – El Sol Elementary School
- Lana Sheeran – King-Westwood Elementary School
- Aaliyah Lynch – King-Westwood Elementary School
- Gilman Cardona Garcia – Lincoln International Studies School
- Nivek Tolbert – Lincoln International Studies School
- Kiara Lopez Marin – Milwood Elementary School
- Phoebe Jansen – Milwood Elementary School
- Mailynn Smith – Northeastern Elementary School
- Stephan Haden – Northeastern Elementary School
- Gavin Cundiff – Northglade Montessori Magnet School
- Jude Mix – Northglade Montessori Magnet School
- Heron Bothwell – Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School
- Gracelyn Goertler – Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School
- Ryan Inciong – Prairie Ridge Elementary School
- Tyler Foote – Prairie Ridge Elementary School
- Emeida Hernandez – Spring Valley Center for Exploration
- Promise Haynes – Spring Valley Center for Exploration
- A’Jhon Carver-Turner – Washington Writers Academy
- Tyrone Lotts – Washington Writers Academy
- Henson Stewart – Winchell Elementary School
- Evelyn DiTaranto – Winchell Elementary School
- Savannah Kelley – Woods Lake Elementary School
- Olivia Parker – Woods Lake Elementary School
- Lena Baird – Woodward School
- Ka’lial Wells – Woodward School
- Kaja Lewis – Hillside Middle School
- Chrysanthus Thaumanavar – Hillside Middle School
- Orion Bailey – Hillside Middle School
- Eugene Anderson – Linden Grove Middle School
- Aiden Dominic Pimentel – Linden Grove Middle School
- Deborah Agyemang – Linden Grove Middle School
- Josiah Loehrke – Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts
- Willow Potter – Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts
- Mylo Chow – Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts
- Jonah Antoniotti – Milwood Magnet School
- Emiliano Solas – Milwood Magnet School
- Rowan Allhoff – Milwood Magnet School
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
- Campus Update: March 22, 2026 - April 14, 2026
- Menjelang Lebaran, 5.865 Guru Ngaji Bondowoso Dapat Insentif Rp1,5 Juta - April 14, 2026
- Local youth gain skills from ULM basketball team - April 14, 2026
Leave a Reply