The 2026 Logan County Spelling Bee crowned a new champion Tuesday night at the Holland Theatre, as Indian Lake Middle School seventh-grader Calin Headings took first place by correctly spelling the championship word, “marquee.”
The annual competition featured twelve students from Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Indian Lake, Riverside, and Calvary Christian.
After advancing through nine rounds of competition, Headings secured his spot in the championship round by correctly spelling “substantially,” then clinched the title with “marquee.”
Headings says he put in a lot of work to win the title:
Bellefontaine Middle School seventh-grader Owen Smith finished as the runner-up.
Smith talks about the event:
The spelling bee was hosted by the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center and emceed by Erica Baer-Woods.
Judges for the event included Andrea Watts, Riverside Schools Gifted Specialist; Bobby Young, Botkins Schools Gifted Specialist; and Mandy Loehr.
Family members, teachers, and classmates packed the Holland Theatre to support the competitors as they demonstrated months of preparation and academic excellence.
