District Competition Ahead For Long Valley Spelling Bee Winners

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Correctly spelling the word “damage” led to a first place win for one of the youngsters participating in the Long Valley Junior Women’s Club’s recent spelling bee, according to a spokesperson for the group.

The 19th annual spelling bee was the first in-person event the club had held since October, because of COVID-19, said Kate Nelson, the club’s spokesperson.

The spelling bee, which took place on Saturday after being delayed from the omicron variant in January, was held with 23 Washington Township fourth and fifth graders at Long Valley’s Valley View Chapel, Nelson said.

Lilanna Goceljak took first place and received a $100 cash prize for spelling “damage” correctly, the competition’s final word. Melody Nagle placed second and received a $50 prize, with Declan Rafter in third and given a $25 prize, she said.

Goceljak, Nagle and Rafter will compete in the Highlands District Spelling Bee in Rockaway, scheduled on March 19 through the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, said Nelson.

“Long Valley Junior Women’s Club is cheering them on and wishes them much success in their next competition,” she added.

There were 13 rounds of competition for the young spellers on Saturday, who Nelson described as amazing with their abilities and also the way they “handled themselves with such poise and even encouraged and cheered each other on throughout the event.”

The club's event co-chairs Jeri Cenziper and Lori Rosania “did a wonderful job of organizing the event and kept things running smoothly for the students,” Nelson said.

The club is continuing with more in-person happenings ahead, including the sold out Trivia Night on March 5 for Operation Chillout, which will benefit homeless veterans. The club is also looking forward to the return of its Daddy Daughter Date Night, a popular fundraising event planned for April 27 and 28 at The Chandelier in Flanders.

To learn more about the Long Valley Junior Women's Club and upcoming events and activities, visit the group's website here and Facebook page here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.