NEWPORT-Never let it be said that spelling competition is just for girls.

During Tuesday night's countywide spelling bee at First Baptist Church, the top five finishers were young men representing four different Cocke County elementary schools.

When the last word was pronounced and correctly spelled, Del Rio eighth-grader Raiden Worley emerged as this year's champion.

First runner-up was Bridgeport sixth-grader Dakota Ball.

Rounding out the top five finishers were second runner-up Bryson James, Northwest eighth-grader; third runner-up Jordan Mantooth, Centerview eighth-grader; and fourth runner-up Dakota Strange, Bridgeport seventh-grader.

Worley bested a total of 16 competitors, who had won the right to compete in the annual event by winning earlier spelling bees in their respective schools.

Worley, son of Dwayne and Terrina Worley, received a check for $100 from school board member Otha Rolen, who represented Parrottsville Ruritan Club, which provided monetary awards for the top five spellers.

Rolen also presented checks to Ball ($75), James ($50), Mantooth ($25), and Strange ($15), prizes also sponsored by the club.

In addition to the money, Worley also received a large plaque. His principal, Jan Dellinger, accepted a plaque for the school from Cocke County Director of Schools Manney Moore. This plaque rotates yearly to the winning speller's school.

After 15 earlier rounds eliminated all but Ball and Worley from the event, competition continued with Ball first stumbling on the word "besiege."

Worley then correctly spelled that word and then confidently spelled the word "colloquial" to claim the victory.

Also competing in the event were Jonas Morey (Centerview), Megan Waddell (Cosby), Shawn Sells (Del Rio), Kendra Mantooth (Edgemont), Joseph Gorrell (Edgemont), Peyton Johnson (Grassy Fork), Julie McGaha (Grassy Fork), Salvador Ortega (Northwest), Haley Smith (Parrottsville), Chloe Hayes (Parrottsville), and Victoria Martin (Smoky Mountain).