Spelling bee champion a three-time winner

“Castanets” were music to Warrenton Middle School seventh-grader Drew Marino’s ears this past Saturday when his young-but-tough final opponent, Bradley Elementary School fourth-grader Kyra Holland, misspelled the word, giving him an opportunity to become the county’s spelling bee champion for the third year in a row.

Without missing a beat, Drew correctly spelled castanets at the Jan. 7 event held at Auburn Middle School and then cleaned out the competition by correctly spelling “hygiene" for the win.

Drew initially won the bee in 2010 as a Brumfield Elementary School fifth-grader and again in 2011 as a Warrenton Middle School sixth-grader.

Vying against 51 competitors in the 2012 bee, he was the last man standing at the end of 26 rounds played out over the course of three hours.

Students from 10 FCPS elementary schools and four middle schools participated in the county bee, which was held before a full house of parents, siblings, grandparents, principals, teachers, family and friends.

Auburn reading specialist John Lucas coordinated the event, and Eileen Burgwyn, instructional supervisor of English and reading, served as the pronouncer. Judges included School Board member Duke Bland and Superintendent of Schools Jonathan Lewis.

Drew and Kyra each received a dictionary from the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, and Drew’s name will be added – for the third time – to the Division Spelling Bee trophy, which debuted at Saturday’s bee.

The new trophy is the product of a suggestion from the division’s Aspirations 2015 Strategic Action Plan committee charged with promoting and recognizing academic achievement.

Both Drew and Kyra will advance to the 7th Annual Free Lance-Star Regional Spelling Bee to be held on Saturday, March 17, at 9:30 a.m. at Muvico/Splitsville Theatres in Fredericksburg. The regional winner will be eligible to participate in the 85th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 27-June 1, 2012.