MANSFIELD — After seven rounds of competition, Kairi Robertson, a seventh-grade student from Madison Middle School, is the 2019 Tri-County Spelling Bee Champion.

Robertson spelled the championship word, “circumflex,” a diacritical mark originally used in languages to mark length, contraction, or a falling-rising tone.

Drake Moyer, a seventh-grade student from Crestline Middle School, was the runner-up.

Thirty-six spellers competed in the bee Feb. 14, at Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center in Mansfield.

This year’s Tri-County Spelling Bee was comprised of the top 12 spellers in Crawford, Richland and Morrow counties representing 16 local school districts.

Every speller received a certificate and the champion and first runner-up received trophies. Certificates and trophies are provided by the Mansfield News Journal.