SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- After 27 rounds, Tanvi Rakesh, a fourth-grader from Longbranch Elementary School, took home the trophy for Region I Kentucky-Indiana Spelling Bee.
Last year's runner up, Rakesh took the 2017 title with the word "tiara."
Rakesh thanked her teachers and friends, but she gave a special thank you to her family for their constant support.
"They helped me in every stage, and they quizzed me a lot and they were always there for me," Rakesh said.
Rakesh received an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in late May. There, she will compete with hundreds of spellers from across the country and beyond.
Rakesh said she looks forward to competing against the top spellers in Washington.
"I'm just going to do my best and go as far as I can," Rakesh said.
Region II Ohio Spelling Bee
A fifth-grader from Hyde Park School survived more than a dozen rounds over nearly four hours Saturday to win the 2017 Region II Ohio Spelling Bee.
Sheridan Hennessy won with the word "inviolable." (It's an adjective meaning secure from assault or trespass.)
Fifth-grader Sheridan Hennessy took the title of the 2017 Region II Ohio Spelling Bee Saturday.
Watch the winning moment in the video player above.
Hennessy said her parents played a big part in helping her train for the competition.
"I started by looking at the (word) list, and then my parents would quiz me. Then I had this book of spelling bee tips and word lists that I would look over, and then my parents would quiz me," she said. "We also listened to a CD of a fictional character doing all the spelling bees."
Saturday morning's competition began with 58 spellers, and it took 11 rounds to get to the final three.
Hennessy was a gracious competitor throughout Saturday's event, loudly clapping and cheering on the other contestants. She also received an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in late May.
