Erick Willock of Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy is this year's Gainesville elementary school spelling champion and Emily Mosqueda-Calderon captured the middle school title.
The Gainesville City School System Spelling Bee was held Friday at Gainesville Middle School.
Willock captured first place at the elementary school level with the winning word “algae” in the 18th round of the competition. Kamyaab Cornett of Centennial Arts Academy was runner-up. The contestants were Christopher Solis, Jose Ayala, Vicky Tamayo, Justin Serrano, Michaya Williams, Freddy Rico, Erick Willock, Georgia Alford, Hannah Stewart, Stuart Daniel, Kamyaab Cornett, Abby McMahan, Eduardo Rosas, Bryan Gomez, and Andrew Wilson.
In the middle school competition, Mosqueda-Calderon won after successfully spelling "mahogany" in the fourth round. Jomaris Maldonado was runner-up. The middle school contestants were Alexyss Smith, Manuel Blanco, Jamari Hester, Jomaris Maldonado, Elizabeth Stewart, Ella Wilson, Leslie Lopez, Emily Mosqueda-Calderon, Genesis Rubio, Steffany Franco, Prudence Matthews, Angie Ortiz, Eliam Esparza, Anna Kate Embry, and Sadie Roach.
Mosqueda-Calderon will now represent the system at the Georgia Association of Educators District Spelling Bee Feb. 25.
The Hall County School System Spelling Bee was held a couple of weeks ago.
