The atmosphere was buzzing at the Los Fresnos United cafeteria during the 18th Annual Los Fresnos CISD District Spelling Bee. Noah Gomez, a 5th grader at Lopez-Riggins Elementary took home the title.
After seven rounds, the field was narrowed down to Noah and Scarlett Galloway, a 6th grader at Los Cuates Middle School. The two battled it out until round 12, when Noah correctly spelled fastener and the championship word, Chinese.
Noah’s win is the culmination of years of practicing for and participating in Spelling Bee. The LRE student watched his brother Matthew compete successfully before competing alongside him when he started Kindergarten.
“Competing alongside my brother made it exciting and fun. I remember shaking hands before the bee and saying may the best man win,” said Noah Gomez.
Since 2018, the brothers consistently did well at the District Spelling Bee. Noah came closest to winning in 2022, when he took second place.
“Being in the Spelling Bee is not as easy as it may seem; it requires a lot of time studying words and putting aside things you love to do. I also think that reading a lot of books expose me to new words,” he said.
“Words can’t express how proud we are of Noah. We know he will continue to work hard to achieve anything he sets his mind to,” said Elvia Guerra, Noah’s mom and a Bilingual Educator at Lopez-Riggins Elementary.
Noah now qualifies to participate in the Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee in March. He aspires to make it to the national competition.
Catherine Canning, English Language Arts teacher at Los Fresnos High School, was the pronouncer. Serving as judges were Sandra Ruiz, Director of Advanced Academics for Los Fresnos CISD; Sara Tudon, Director of Curriculum for Los Fresnos CISD; and Freddy Vela, Chief Meteorologist for KVEO.
The participants included:
- Las Yescas Elementary: Alessandra M. Altamirano, Ana V. Guzman, Pedro Solis, Jr.; Alternate: Jeanette M. Rodriguez Coach: Amalia Salazar
- Laureles Elementary: Jose Godoy, Joanelle Monsivaiz, Genesis Vidales; Alternate: Coach: Flor Rodriguez-Trejo
- Lopez-Riggins Elementary: Noah Gomez, Jon Gutierrez, Amariani Robledo; Alternate: Joselyn Flores Coach: Rebecca Villarreal
- Los Fresnos Elementary: Lexie Aguilar, Abigail Deimes, Jackson Gomez; Alternate: Renata Pesina Coach: Monica Cano
- Olmito Elementary: Xochitl Gonzalez, Veedang Nampoothiri, Erick Velsaquez; Alternate: Noah Ramirez. Coach: Shirley Mariscal.
- Palmer-Laakso Elementary: Daphne Balli, Kimberly Townsend, Kingston Vasquez; Alternate: Adrian Azocar Coach: Sandra A. Salazar
- Rancho Verde Elementary: Madison Perez, Anirudh Roy, Sophia Santos; Alternate: Lya Ramirez Coach: Norma Zapata.
- Dora Romero Elementary: Lia Cortez, Cristian Guajardo, Lina Guzman; Alternate: Gael Beltran Coach: Olivia Gunnoe.
- Villareal Elementary: Eva Herandnez, Dylan Kitterman, Chloe Salazar; Alternate: Evelyn Martinez Coach: Melissa Leal.
- Liberty Memorial Middle School: Mia Lopez, Critisna Torres, Eris Villarreal; Alternate: Jared Perez Coach: Elsy A. Rendon
- Los Cuates Middle School: Scarlet Galloway, Johnny Garza, Unique Strawther; Coach: Amy Baker
- Resaca Middle School: Henry Flores, Sebastian Garza, Luenne Rodriguez; Alternate: Isabella Ramirez Coach: Juana Calvillo