By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A districtwide contest Friday morning in Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center determined the fourth grade spelling team for the 24th annual Cass County bee Feb. 27.
Fourth graders vie as a team at the county level, while grades 5-8 advance to individual competition leading to a county champion.
Dowagiac's team consists of Camille Ralston of Kincheloe, Ryan Millin of Justus Gage, Mary Magin of Sister Lakes, Kasey Smith of Kincheloe, Brennan Miles of Sister Lakes and alternate Dakota Lampert from McKinley's all-boy squad.
Superintendent of Schools Peg Stowers pronounced words while Principals Marcy Hendress of Sister Lakes, Kay Tularak of McKinley, Dan Smith of Kincheloe and Bob Franz of Justus Gage judged.
The judges weren't idle, but mostly whispered among themselves as they checked words against a tape, so the audience couldn't be sure which man was Simon, which man was Randy and which of the women was Paula.
One of the Kincheloe spellers asked Stowers for a definition of "definition."
Representing Justus Gage were Amanda Badner, Angelica Garcia, Andy Lyle, Jessica Myers, Ryan Millin and alternate Mysti Head.
Kincheloe sent a team of Dalton Ashby, Charles Hess, Carrie Raab, Camille Ralston, Kasey Smith and alternate Allyson Wild.
McKinley fielded a team of Adrian Leversen, Jacob Helmuth, Dakota Lampert, Daniel Kruger, Jeremiah Guernsey and alternates Katie Longden and Taylor Dodd.
Sister Lakes' squad consisted of Rachel Lindemulder, Mary Magin, Brennan Miles, Vicente Villanueva, Sean Yore and alternate Vaughn Herter.
Teams competed through 10 rounds of increasingly difficult words, including four from the white list, four from the blue list and two from the red list.
Eight tie-breaker rounds ensued to decide the last two of the five spots and an alternate between Kasey Smith, Dakota Lampert and Brennan Miles.
The contest finally concluded when Brennan missed "vaccinated" and "precision" to be edged by Kasey, who was tripped up only by "penniless."