Seventh Grader Paul Hamrick Wins Spelling Bee, Will Represent Monterey County in Washington D.C.
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, 7th 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 Third New International Dictionary and champion trophy.
The order of finishers is as follows:
In the 17th round, Paul Hamrick was named champion after spelling his second consecutive word correctly, reparations. The 7th grade homeschooler also spelled hypercritical, baration, maraud, penchant, commission, invasive, renown, Baedeker, taiga, zephyr, heifer, Bolshevik, pochismeo, potash, pretzel and complaints.
Second place went to three-time school champion, Anthony Santa Ana, an 8th 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 8th 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, 7th grade, Monterey County Home Charter School
Fifth Place: Garrett Fernandez, 8th grade, Junipero Serra School
Tied for Sixth Place: Alison Eng, 8th grade, Pacific Grove Middle School
Osvaldo Garcia, 8th grade, Chualar Union Elementary School
Eighth Place: Kevin Martinez, 8th grade, Palma School
Ninth Place: Colin Hunt, 7th grade, Santa Catalina School
Tenth Place: Mia Sanchez, 7th grade, El Sausal Middle School
Tied for Eleventh Place: Leo Burks, 8th grade, York School
Anna Michelle Chassion, 7th grade, Buena Vista Middle School
Lawson Marshall, 8th grade, Lagunita School
Peyton Ross, 7th grade, San Benancio Middle School
Stephanie Sanchez, 6thgrade, Monte Bella Elementary School
Hugo Sinay, 6th grade, Oscar F. Loya School
Jaime Velasquez, 8th grade, San Lucas School
Grace Wang, 6th grade, Carmel Middle School
Tied for 20th Place
Rena Babb, 6th grade, San Antonio School
Nayeli Mendoza, 8th grade, Main Street Middle School
Barbara Ramirez, 6th grade, Boronda Meadows School
Jennifer Rios, 7th grade, Vista Verde Middle School
Tied for 24th Place
Serenity Alarcon, 6th grade, Laurel Wood School
Gustavo Blas, 6th Grade, Bardin School
Dagny Brej, 8th grade, San Carlos School
Uriel Cardenas, 6th grade, Frank Ledesma School
Maddlynn Cardoso, 6th grade, Monterey Park School
Dominic Chavez, 6th grade, Rose Ferrero School
Jaden Cox, 6th grade, Elkhorn Elementary School
Ryan Delosreyes, 6th grade, Walter Colton Middle School
Kristin Diaz, 6th grade, University Park school
Cadence Eskue, 6th grade, Loma Vista Elementary School
Felix Espinosa, 6th grade, Henry Kammann School
Maritza Garcia, 6th grade, Sherwood School
Aaliyah Gonzalez, 6th grade, San Vicente School
Rylee Guthrie, 6th grade, John Steinbeck School
Genesis Lopez, 7th grade, La Paz Middle School
Samuel Low, 6th grade, Mission Park School
Sophia Oliva, 7th grade, Fairview Middle School
Ethan Willis, 7th grade, North Mo. Co. Middle School
Tied for 42nd Place; Sergio Cabrera, 6th grade, Roosevelt School
Rigo Garcia, 6th grade, Dual Language Academy, Mo. Peninsula
Jose Guzman, 6th grade, Frank Paul School
Sean Lapitan, 6th grade, Natividad Elementary School
Ayanna Lee, 6th grade, Gabilan Elementary School
Angelina Martinez, 8th grade, Chalone Peaks Middle School
Jahaziel Mendoza, 6th grade Dr. Martin Luther King Academy
Jasmynne Oliva, 6th grade, Prunedale Elementary
Dayana Ramirez, 6th grade, Fremont School
Daphne Renteria, 6th grade, Jack Franscioni School
Edwin Rodriguez, 7th grade, Harden Middle School
Elizabeth Rojas, 6th grade, Virginia Rocca Barton School
Daijia Marie Sanchez, 6th grade, Lincoln School
Joshua Torres, 8th grade, Seaside Middle School
Tied for 56th Place: Guadalupe Alvarez, 6th grade, Echo Valley Elementary School
Julian Santiago, 6th grade, Creekside Elementary School
