The sharpest spellers from area schools descended on Minot State University on Wednesday, duking it out at the Ward County Spelling Bee.

The competition began with a 50-word written test, which determined winners and runner-ups for grades 5-8. Chilaka Ogobi of Our Redeemer’s Christian School and Kohen Merkel of Erik Ramstad Middle School won the county and city in their respective grades with 49 correct, while seventh-grade city winner Berit Meinert of Erik Ramstad achieved a perfect 50 for 50.

The top 18 spellers from the written word test squared off for the classic oral spelldown, which lasted a grueling 10 rounds of attrition before they were whittled down to Ogobi and Merkel. The pair both qualified for the State Spelling Bee and went back and forth, correctly spelling word after word until Ogobi finally claimed victory.

Ogobi and Merkel will compete at the State Spelling Bee in Bismarck on Monday, March 17, alongside 102 students from throughout the state for a chance to compete in Washington, D.C., at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.