Henryetta fourth and fifth grades were carrying on a nearly 100-year-old tradition Tuesday morning.
Sixteen students went head to head in the spelling bee with Joey Elliott giving the correct selling of waist to be named champion.
He, along with second place winner Braxton England, will be going to Muskogee later this spring for the district contest. Ultimately, Oklahoma will be sending a champion to the national contest in Washington, D.C.

spelling bee winners
first third winners Gracie Rogers, a member of Ashley Burton’s fourth grade class won third in the local spell off and will be an alternate in the event the top winners can’t compete.
The 2017 Henryetta contestants included Jenna Thomasson, Rylie Corn, Joey Elliott, Phoenix McKay, Jameson Brison, Katlyn Sessions, Jayda Pinkston, Kaydence Graham, Gracie Rogers, Shylie Garrison, Aubrey Hill, Talon Weaver, Braxton England, Paton Robinson, Ryley Woods and Ava Young.
“We are proud of these students,” said assistant principal Jayme Matlock. “They studied hard for this and all did their best.”
The first national spelling bee was held in 1925 as a collaboration among nine newspapers. In 1941, Scripps became the lone sponsor.