2017 Countywide Spelling Bee Results 

The 2017 Monterey Countywide Spelling Bee experience can be summed up with one word – e-n-d-u-r-a-n-c-e. After a record-breaking number of Monterey County students (57) competed during the longest Monterey Countywide Bee in its history, 7^th grade student Paul Hamrick, correctly spelled "reparations" to become the new Monterey County spelling champ. Paul, from Lambert Hamrick Homeschool, outlasted 17 rounds and out-spelled 56 other students from schools throughout Monterey County to win the Bee on March 5th at the Western Stage Theatre at Hartnell College.

As champion, Paul will represent Monterey County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the Washington, D.C. area May 28 – June 4, 2017. Airfare, hotel and expenses for Paul and a parent are sponsored by community partners. Other prizes included the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary from Merriam Webster, a $50 gift card from Northridge Mall, and a champion trophy.

The order of finishers is as follows:

In the 17^th round, Paul Hamrick was named champion after spelling his second consecutive word correctly, reparations. The 7^thgrade homeschooler also spelled hypercritical, baration, maraud, penchant, commission, invasive, renown, Baedeker, taiga, zephyr, heifer, Bolshevik, pochismo, potash, pretzel and complaints.

Second place went to three-time school champion, Anthony Santa Ana, an 8^th grader from Washington Middle School. Anthony correctly spelled syllabus, pylon, truism, multiverse, thistle, apparatchik, euphemism, raita, basmati, malihini, mattock, expertise and digestive.

Third place went to Heidi Hansch, an 8^th grader at All Saints’ Episcopal Day School, who correctly spelled surrealist, adequacy, summitry, redact, beacon, halal, dossier, serdab, commissar, lieutenant, streusel, shogun, finale, and nonsense.

Fourth Place

James Beck, 7^th grade, Monterey County Home Charter School

Fifth Place

Garrett Fernandez, 8^th grade, Junipero Serra School

Tied for Sixth Place

Alison Eng, 8^th grade, Pacific Grove Middle School

Osvaldo Garcia, 8^th grade, Chualar Union Elementary School

Eighth Place

Kevin Martinez, 8^th grade, Palma School

Ninth Place

Colin Hunt, 7^th grade, Santa Catalina School

Tenth Place

Mia Sanchez, 7^th grade, El Sausal Middle School

Tied for Eleventh Place

Leo Burks, 8^th grade, York School

Anna Michelle Chassion, 7^th grade, Buena Vista Middle School

Lawson Marshall, 8^th grade, Lagunita School

Peyton Ross, 7^th grade, San Benancio Middle School

Stephanie Sanchez, 6^thgrade, Monte Bella Elementary School

Hugo Sinay, 6^th grade, Oscar F. Loya School

Jaime Velasquez, 8^th grade, San Lucas School

Grace Wang, 6^th grade, Carmel Middle School

Tied for 20^th Place

Rena Babb, 6^th grade, San Antonio School

Nayeli Mendoza, 8^th grade, Main Street Middle School

Barbara Ramirez, 6^th grade, Boronda Meadows School

Jennifer Rios, 7^th grade, Vista Verde Middle School

Tied for 24^th Place

Serenity Alarcon, 6^th grade, Laurel Wood School

Gustavo Blas, 6^th Grade, Bardin School

Dagny Brej, 8^th grade, San Carlos School

Uriel Cardenas, 6^th grade, Frank Ledesma School

Maddlynn Cardoso, 6^th grade, Monterey Park School

Dominic Chavez, 6^th grade, Rose Ferrero School

Jaden Cox, 6^th grade, Elkhorn Elementary School

Ryan Delosreyes, 6th grade, Walter Colton Middle School

Kristin Diaz, 6^th grade, University Park school

Cadence Eskue, 6^th grade, Loma Vista Elementary School

Felix Espinosa, 6^th grade, Henry Kammann School

Maritza Garcia, 6^th grade, Sherwood School

Aaliyah Gonzalez, 6^th grade, San Vicente School

Rylee Guthrie, 6^th grade, John Steinbeck School

Genesis Lopez, 7^th grade, La Paz Middle School

Samuel Low, 6^th grade, Mission Park School

Sophia Oliva, 7^th grade, Fairview Middle School

Ethan Willis, 7^th grade, North Mo. Co. Middle School

Tied for 42^nd Place

Sergio Cabrera, 6^th grade, Roosevelt School

Rigo Garcia, 6^th grade, Dual Language Academy, Mo. Peninsula

Jose Guzman, 6^th grade, Frank Paul School

Sean Lapitan, 6^th grade, Natividad Elementary School

Ayanna Lee, 6^th grade, Gabilan Elementary School

Angelina Martinez, 8^th grade, Chalone Peaks Middle School

Jahaziel Mendoza, 6^th grade Dr. Martin Luther King Academy

Jasmynne Oliva, 6^th grade, Prunedale Elementary

Dayana Ramirez, 6^th grade, Fremont School

Daphne Renteria, 6^th grade, Jack Franscioni School

Edwin Rodriguez, 7^th grade, Harden Middle School

Elizabeth Rojas, 6^th grade, Virginia Rocca Barton School

Daijia Marie Sanchez, 6^th grade, Lincoln School

Joshua Torres, 8^th grade, Seaside Middle School

Tied for 56^th Place

Guadalupe Alvarez, 6^th grade, Echo Valley Elementary School

Julian Santiago, 6^th grade, Creekside Elementary School