Anirudh Roy, a 6th grader at Resaca Middle School, won the 21st annual Los Fresnos CISD Spelling Bee Championship.
After eight rounds, the field was narrowed down to three contestants, including Anirudh Roy from Resaca Middle School, Noah Gomez from Los Cuates Middle School, and Uswatul Muhammad-Munsiff from Resaca Middle School. The field of three was then narrowed to just Anirudh Roy and Noah Gomez, who spelled through round 11. Anirudh spelled the championship word “carnifices” to win the 2026 Spelling Bee title.
Anirudh Roy now qualifies to participate in the Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee in March. Juana Calvillo is the Spelling Bee coach from Resaca Middle School.
Dr. Raul Garza Jr. served as the linguistic pronouncer. The other judges were as follows: Sara Tudon, Ed.D, Patricia Aguilar, Anibal Villarreal.
The participants included:
- Las Yescas Elementary: Apollo Perez, Gigi Martinez, Katheryne Morua; Alternate: Rominah Renteria • Coach: Amalia Salazar
- Laureles Elementary: Alvaro Rodriguez, Cason Sparks, Jordana Salinas; Alternate: Peter Moreno • Coach: Flor Rodriguez-Trejo
- Lopez-Riggins Elementary: Castiel Ramos, Francisco Elizardi, Jaxson Barton; Alternate: Hailey Lopez • Coach: Rebecca Villarreal
- Los Fresnos Elementary: Alejandra Casanova, Imelda Gonzalez, Leonardo Lerma; Alternate: Roque Rodriguez • Coach: Patricia Coronado
- Olmito Elementary: Alayna Rosales, Eva Velazquez, Xavi Hernandez; Alternate: Marjorie Alvarez • Coach: Shirley Mariscal
- Palmer-Laakso Elementary: Adryanna Aranda, Everett Schumann, Zaida Chambers; Alternate: Rowena Rodriguez • Coach: Sandra A. Salazar
- Rancho Verde Elementary: Dante Garza, David Aleman, Isabella Rodriguez; Alternate: Daleyza Dominguez • Coach: Katie Gallardo
- Dora Romero Elementary: Andrea Quintero, Isaias Ypiña, Josiah Vasquez; Alternate: Matteo Finke • Coach: Elizabeth Johnson
- Villareal Elementary: Dylan Kitterman, Eduardo Alvarez, Ellie Garcia; Alternate: Amelia Solis • Coach: Melissa Leal
- Liberty Memorial Middle School: Aidelee Vega, Amelia Alvarez, Victoria Perez; Alternate: Roberto Castillo • Coach: Elsy A. Rendon
- Los Cuates Middle School: Gael I. Beltran, Miranda A. Alvarado, Noah S. Gomez; Alternate: Amariani A. Robledo • Coach: Melina Castillo
- Resaca Middle School: Anirudh Roy, Sophie Irene Cantu, Uswatul Muhammad-Munsiff; Alternate: Natalia Cuevas • Coach: Juana Calvillo