The Floyd County Schools Spelling Bee ended with a back and forth spell-off that rivaled most tennis matches as two finalists tried to spell their way to victory.

Jaida Lovelace, a seventh-grader from Pepperell Middle School, won the bee on Monday, Feb. 7, by correctly spelling “toxicosis.” She beat out Joseph Lancaster, an eighth-grader from Model Middle School, who had to settle for second place after misspelling “convivial.”

Jaida had been practicing for the bee for weeks, using her winter break to learn new words, writing them 10 times each.

“I practiced all week, all day,” she said.

Jaida’s mother, Kristi Milner, described her daughter as smart and motivated.

“It is good for her to be in this,” Milner said of the bee. “She knows she can do anything she wants.”

Shannon Pollitz, Jaida’s language arts teacher, said the seventh-grader has been working hard to prepare.

“She is so self motivated,” Pollitz said. “She is very driven.”

Both Jaida and Joseph will compete in the regional bee on Feb. 26 at the Floyd County Schools central office. Among their competitors will be Rome’s top spellers, Nancy Lopez of West Central Elementary and Tyra Thompson of Southeast Elementary.