DOWNINGTOWN, PA — A poised final spelling of “predecessor” secured the championship for Yohaan Damani of Downingtown Middle School at the 2026 Chester County Spelling Bee on Wednesday night.
The annual competition, held February 11 at the Collegium Performing Arts Center, brought together 41 top spellers from schools across the county. After advancing through their respective school bees, students collectively worked through more than 135 words in a focused and spirited contest that highlighted both academic preparation and composure under pressure.
Yohaan clinched first place by correctly spelling “predecessor” (P-R-E-D-E-C-E-S-S-O-R), earning the opportunity to represent Chester County this spring at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
“I’m excited to be on the national stage and represent Chester County,” Yohaan said. “I started preparing for the spelling bee just for fun, so winning the competition is both a surprise and a rewarding accomplishment.”
Santosh Kandasamy of G. A. Stetson Middle School finished in second place. Brooke Bainbridge of Lionville Middle School and Cadel McBee of Saints Simon and Jude School tied for third.
“The spelling bee goes beyond spelling; it gives students an opportunity to grow academically and personally, by building confidence while expanding their vocabulary,” said Jay Della Ragione, special events coordinator for the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), which coordinated the event. “Their hard work and dedication are inspiring to see.”
As champion, Yohaan received a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online, a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online Premium, a one-year subscription to News-O-Matic, a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, and a Scrabble board game. The second-place finisher received a $35 Barnes & Noble gift card and a Bananagrams game, while the third-place winners each received a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card and a Bananagrams game.
The 2026 Chester County Spelling Bee was organized by the CCIU and sponsored by CCRES Educational and Behavioral Health Services and Orthographer sponsor Horace Mann. Organizers credited participating schools, families, and volunteers for helping make the event a success.
With the county title secured, Yohaan will next prepare to compete on the national stage, representing Chester County among the country’s top young spellers this spring.
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