The winner of Wednesday’s Upshur County Spelling Bee, Lila Wright, works to spell the winning words, ‘crayon’ and ‘cowlick.’ Lila said she is excited to ‘bee’ the top speller. Lila said she comes from a spelling family – her brother won the Upshur County Spelling Bee two times when he was younger and mom, Daya and her team have been top spellers at the Upshur County Community Spelling Bee for the last two years. Lila is in sixth grade at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School.

Spelling is a family affair for Upshur County Spelling Bee champ Lila Wright

Beth Christian Broschart
January 24, 2020

TENNERTON — The sixth-grade winner of Wednesday’s 32nd annual Upshur County Bee knows a thing or two about words.

Lila Wright, who correctly spelled the words ‘crayon’ and ‘cowlick’ to capture the winning title said her older brother won the spelling bee twice when he was younger. In fact, her mom, Daya Wright, and her team ‘Highway to Spell’ have claimed the top spot in the Upshur County Arts Alliance’s now-annual adult spelling bee for the past two years.

The adult spelling bee is set for 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Jan. 24 and the Event Center at Brushy Fork. Will Highway to Spell dominate the field for the third consecutive year? That’s yet to be determined, but s-t-a-y t-u-n-e-d.

In the meantime, Wednesday’s top five spellers (plus one alternate) will advance on to the regional spelling bee in March at Fairmont State University.