From left: Olivia Reed (6th grade - 2nd place), Nathan Hurtig (6th grade - 1st place), Kade Cortez (8th grade - 3rd place).

It came down to "anonymity."

Of the five finalists in the Ada District Spelling Bee who exhausted the prepared 80-word list on March 13, it took an additional 62 words to crown a champion with the word "anonymity."  

This year's winner is Nathan Hurtig, a sixth grader. Second is Olivia Reed, also a sixth grader. Third place is Kade Cortez, an eighth grader.

Also competing in the top five were Luci Wall, fourth grade and Riley Ferguson, fourth grade.

In the eight years that Suzanne Hardesty has coordinated the Bee, students have never spelled the entire list. "In fact, one year was determined after only 15 words - the year of the "rhinoceros," she told The Icon.

The next level is the Lima Regional Spelling Bee at Lima Senior High School on March 22. Hardesty said that March 22 is also Nathan Hurtig's birthday and he excited about continuing on to the next level of the spelling bee.

To congratulate the top five students for getting farther than students in previous years, Ada Academic Boosters organized a special prize for the top five - a large Hershey bar.

The Ada Academic Boosters supported the competition. The top three medals were provided by the boosters. 

Click here to view the list of all the competitors and to watch a video of the introductions.