Red and gold trophies in hand and a trip to the national spelling bee secured, the two winners of the Badger State Spelling Bee dispensed with the long, scary words and opted instead for simpler choices: “happy,” “fun, “great.”
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Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya accepts his first-place trophy at Saturday's Badger State Spelling Bee from bee coordinator Jane McMahon at the Mitby Theater.
Badger State Spelling Bee second-place finisher Nethraa Muthupandiyaraja, an eighth-grader at Forest Park Middle School in Franklin, reacts after realizing she will be one of two Wisconsin representatives competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Badger State Spelling Bee pronouncer Brad Williams delivers a word to one of the competitors.
Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Emily Beier, a fifth-grader at Grayside Elementary School in Mauston, enjoys a bite during a tailgate party prior to the event.
Photos: 2024 Badger State Spelling Bee
Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Jacob Martonito, a fifth-grader at St. Francis Xavier Middle School, awaits his turn to spell during the event.
Trophies await the top two finishers at the Badger State Spelling Bee.
Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Tegan Pugh, a seventh-grader at Platteville Middle School, visualizes a word.
Badger State Spelling Bee second-place finisher Nethraa Muthupandiyaraja, an eighth-grader at Forest Park Middle School in Franklin, reacts after realizing she will be one of two Wisconsin representatives competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya accepts his first-place trophy at Saturday's Badger State Spelling Bee from bee coordinator Jane McMahon at the Mitby Theater.
Spellers in the 2004 Badger State Spelling Bee take their seats and position their numbers at the start of the event.
Badger State Spelling Bee pronouncer Brad Williams delivers a word to one of the competitors.
Contestant Trinity Barrett-Paap, a seventh-grader at Fond du Lac Christian School, spells a word during Saturday's event. Behind her is Owen Pence, an eight-grader at Christ Child Academy in Sheboygan.
Contestant Amber Ferris, an eighth-grader at Waunakee Middle School, gathers her thoughts while waiting her turn to spell.
A Badger State Spelling Bee contestant drops her number in a box after misspelling a word.
Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Katherine Moore of Spring Harbor Elementary School in Madison receives a hug of encouragement from her father, David Moore, as her mother, Mollie Moore, looks on prior to the start of the event. Moore came in third at the All-City bee in Feb.
Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Elise McCrae, a fifth-grader at River Valley Middle School in Spring Green gets in some last minute studying with her mother, Mandy, prior to the start of the event.
Badger State Spelling Bee champion Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya, an eighth-grader at Blessed Sacrament School in Madison is greeted with cheers after winning the competition.
Badger State Spelling Bee second-place finisher Nethraa Muthupandiyaraja, an eight-grader at Forest Park Middle School in Franklin, and state champion Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya, an eighth-grader at Blessed Sacrament School in Madison pose with their trophies following the event. Both will be representing the state at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. on May 28.
Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Emily Beier, a fifth-grader at Grayside Elementary School in Mauston, enjoys a bite during a tailgate party prior to the event.
2024 Badger State Spelling Bee contestant Trinity Barrett-Paap, a seventh-grader from Fond du Lac Christian School, has her picture taken by parents John and Robin prior to the event.
