Charles Fennell, an eighth-grader from Carmen Arace Middle School in Bloomfield, was the last speller standing in the Connecticut Spelling Bee Sunday.
Over the course of 2 1/2 hours, 10 rounds and 13 other students ranging from third to eighth graders, Charles spelled the word “cataphora” to win the first-ever virtual Connecticut Spelling Bee, hosted by the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society and The Courant.
Hayden Hughes, a fifth-grader who is homeschooled, and Adam Pendergrass, a seventh-grader from Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford, tied for second place. Camden Mullarney, a fifth-grader at East Lyme Middle School, placed third.