It took 11 rounds and came down “cavalcade” for Nicole Boyle, Bluffton seventh grader, to repeat as the middle school spelling bee champion for the second year in a row.

PRACTICE ROUND VIDEO IS BELOW -

The bee, held Dec. 13, included 14 contestants from grades six, seven and eight.

Runner-up, who continued head-to-head with Nicole for five rounds, is Elizabeth Bourassa, eighth grader.

As the remaining two contestants, Elizabeth misspelled the musical instrument “lyre.” Nicole then spelled “austere,” and “cavalcade” correctly to win the bee.

Nicole advances to the Allen County spelling bee later this winter.

ALL CONTESTANTS’ PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM –

Competitors this year:

Sixth grade
Anna Edwards
Lauren Speicher
Hannah DavisJonah Rehm
Kameron Coughlan

Seventh grade
Nicole Boyle
Kylie Stackhouse
Caleb McKenzie
Ethan Bogart

Eighth grade
Pearl Lewandowski
Elizabeth Bourassara
Grace Myers
Jonah Blackburn
Ibrahim Khokhar

Elizabeth Corley was the pronouncer. Susan Gratz and Nancy Armour were the judges. Natalie Armstrong is the sixth and seventh grade language arts teacher in charge of the spelling bee.

Recent winners
2016-17 – Nicole Boyle
2015-16 – Nicole Boyle
2014-15 – Danielle Novak
2013-14 – Laura Strahan
2012-13 – not available
2011-12 – Elizabeth Nisly
2010-11 – Elizabeth Nisly