Presler spells way to third straight title
By:
Jill Meier, Journal editor
The boys outlasted the girls in the Brandon Valley Middle School Spelling Bee last week. (From left) Tate Roberts captured second, Sam Klein placed third and Ryan Presler won his third straight title. All three will advance to the regional bee in Sioux Falls this February. Jill Meier/BV Journal
A two-time Brandon Valley Intermediate School spelling bee champion made it three in a row Dec. 13 by out-lasting eight other finalists at Brandon Valley Middle School.
Ryan Presler, who claimed the title as a fifth and sixth grader at BVIS, now adds the seventh-grade title to his resume of spelling bee victories.
“I’ve always been pretty good at spelling,” said Presler, whose parents, Kraig and JoAnn Presler, are both educators in the Brandon Valley School District.
While having a mom and dad who teach, the youngest of the Presler clan said studying and memorizing words has been the recipe to his spelling bee successes.
And while securing a trio of local spelling bee titles is impressive in itself, even more admirable is Presler’s pair of state runner-up finishes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. His goal this year is to forego the state runner-up title and to win it all.
“It’s my goal to win. Number one, I’ve always wanted to go to Washington, D.C.,” he shares. “And it’s always fun to participate.”
But before Presler has the chance to take his third shot at being the best speller in South Dakota, he’ll first need to master the regional competition, which takes typically takes place in February at Augustana University in Sioux Falls.
“There are a lot more words at the regional level,” Presler said, “and they’re organized in language groups. It’s harder but do-able.”
Presler will be joined in competition at the regional ranks by BVMS runner-up, Tate Roberts, an eighth grader, Sam Klein, also an eighth grader, who captured third.
Other finalists competing in the BVMS spelling bee were Ella Moody, Christian Jepperson, Isabella Steffel, Hailey Christiansen, Riley Carlson and Bethany Smith.
