Last Wednesday, at the KVL Spelling Bee at TJHS, Tonganoxie eighth-grader Sarah Swaim won the eighth-grade spelling bee. She beat out 27 other students in her class for the top spot. Last year, Sarah, who is the daughter of Ron and Lisa Swaim, placed second in the league as a seventh-grader.

Tonganoxie Junior High language arts teacher Marilyn Daniels said this is the first time in at least 10 years that a Tonganoxie student has taken first place in this competition.

Lansing’s Marita Meyer won the seventh-grade competition. Alex Bartels of Tonganoxie placed fifth in seventh-grade. Alex is the daughter of Tammy and Robert Bartels.

The league, at the junior high level, consists of Lansing, Piper, Perry-Lecompton, Basehor-Linwood, Monticello Trails, Lexington Trails and Tonganoxie. Monticello Trails and Lexington Trails are in the De Soto school district.

The league spelling bee is not affiliated with the state or national spelling bees. Here are the top six spellers in the seventh and eighth grades:

Seventh grade

First, Marita Meyer, Lansing; second, Nathan Wessel, Lansing; third, Emily Knapp, Basehor-Linwood; fourth, Tommy Strauser, Lexington Trails; fifth, Alex Bartels, Tonganoxie; sixth, Meghan Slater, Piper.

Eighth grade

First, Sarah Swaim, Tonganoxie; second, Zach Ross, Basehor-Linwood; third, Reid Smith, Lansing; fourth, John Mehl, Perry-Lecompton; fifth,Tlahah Siraj, Lansing; sixth, Justin Keck, Basehor-Linwood.