The Chieftains reigned supreme last Friday — not just on the basketball court, on the stage of the Southwestern Michigan College Dale A. Lyons Building theater during the 33rd annual Cass County Spelling Bee, hosted by the Lewis Cass ISD.

Competing against students from Cassopolis, Edwardsburg and Marcellus schools, Dowagiac spellers put in a strong performance in both team and singles competition. Winning first and second place respectively, in the fifth through eighth grade individual bee were Dowagiac Middle School students Jossalyn Rogalski and Ricky Haskell.

Meanwhile, Sister Lakes Elementary student Laura Schaller was the first-place speller in the fourth-grade solo competition.