The best spellers in 74 counties competed in the Sunflower State Spelling Bee, sponsored by ITC, KICA, Cox Communications and the Kansas Press Association, Friday, March 26. This year’s bee was 100% online using the Scripps National Spelling Bee platform. 

Seventy-five students across Kansas were registered to compete in Friday’s oral spelldown, which included spelling and vocabulary. 

The 2021 Sunflower State Spelling Bee was a combination of 25 spelling words and 25 vocabulary words. Ishya Bhavsar, an eighth grader from Johnson County, correctly answered 49 out of a possible 50.

Bhavsar will represent Kansas in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Orlando, Florida, later this year.

Gopikaashri Chidambaranathan from Shawnee County placed second, Aiden Levendofsky from Riley County placed third and Niko Tsereteli from Ellis County placed fourth.

The following area students competed: Allianna Thomasson, Ellsworth County, 12th place; Austin Trober, Russell County, 13th place; Jacklyn Garcia, Barton County, 16th place; Slade Sundahl, Pawnee County, 16th place; Porter Anderson, Rice County, 20th place; Jayce Feril, Stafford County, 22nd place; Sienna Brenner, Ness County, 22nd place; Skylar Brake, Edwards County, 24th place; and Connor Spreier, Rush County, 26th place.