The annual Polk School District’s Spelling Bee is coming up next Wednesday, and students got a little extra time to prepare due to a delay in the scheduling of the annual event.

Youth will gather at the Cedartown campus of the Polk County College and Career Academy in the HON Room on January 26 in the morning for the annual test of spelling knowledge for elementary and middle school youth.

This year, eight students will be competing for the title after winning the school-wide bees, and eight alternates are also ready to step up and participate should the school champion be unable to take part during the upcoming event.

Representing Cherokee Elementary this year is Madilynn Lancaster, who won for the school with alternate Jaxon Landrum coming in second place.

The Eastside Elementary champ is Piper Ozment, with Alex Mendez as an alternate. Northside’s winner is Mason Harris and Bellah Kitchens as the alternate.

Westside’s Marley English is the school’s representative, with Brock Evans as the alternate for 2022.

Representing Van Wert Elementary is Lane Slater as the school’s winner, and Jovie Sanders is the alternate as the second-place finisher. From Young’s Grove Elementary comes Naomi McDonald as this year’s school champ, and Lenny Barrera Cruz as the alternate.

Cedartown Middle is sending Jacklynn Bozeman as the school champ and has Elisabet Gonzalez-Perez available as an alternate. Rockmart Middle will be represented by Michael Hall, with Niles Oscarson as the alternate.

Check back for video coverage from the Spelling Bee following the competition on Wednesday.