It came down to “marmalade,” “exasperation,” “reprobate,” “annoyance,” and finally “conspiracy.”

Bluffton sixth grader Caitlyn Couch won this year’s Middle School spelling bee and will represent the school in the Feb. 24 Allen County spelling bee and also the March 17 regional spelling bee.

Seventh grader, Hannah Davis, runner-up, is Bluffton’s spelling bee alternate.

This year’s bee, held Friday morning, went four rounds until Caitlyn and Hannah were the lone contestants standing.

They competed against each other, spelling their final words correctly until Hannah missed “reprobate,” and Caitlyn followed by correctly spelling both “annoyance” and “conspiracy” to win the title.

This year’s participants follow:

Sixth grade
Caitlyn Couch
Cole Bowers
Adanna Johnstone
Malaya McBrien
Izzy Stechschulte

Seventh grade
Hannah Davis
Jacob Szabo
Cameron Coughlan

Eighth grade
Nicole Boyle
Ethan Bogart
Amber Boop
Logan Nussbaum
Reagan Mittendorf

This year’s pronouncer was Elizabeth Cogley. Judges were Nancy Armour and Susie Gratz.

Recent spelling bee winners:
2017-18 - Caitlyn Couch, 6th grade
2016-17 - Nicole Boyle, 7th grade
2015-16 - Nicole Boyle, 6th grade
2014-15 - Danielle Novak, 7th grade
2013-14 - Laura Strahan, 8th grade
2012-13 - Isabel Maseli, 7th grade
2011-12 - Elizabeth Nisly, 8th grade - also Allen County champion
2010-11 - Elizabeth Nisly, 7th grade - also Allen County champion