JEFFERSON PARK — The final round of the Spelling Bee at Prussing Elementary School was an epic battle between two fierce competitors each determined to claim the title — and the bragging rights — of top speller.
They also happened to be siblings, school officials said.
Zyra Pelegrino, a fifth-grader, and her brother Zachary Pelegrino, a second-grader, spent their winter break prepping for the annual contest at the Jefferson Park school, 4650 N. Menard Ave., officials said.
That hard work paid off. After 14 rounds, the Pelegrino siblings went head to head for nine rounds before Zyra finally prevailed, school officials said.
"The audience couldn't help but break into cheers as Zach rattled off the correct spelling of three-, four- and five-syllable words," said teacher Maureen O'Brien, who coordinated the contest sponsored at schools nationwide by Scripps.
O'Brien called the at-times "tense" contest "electrifying."
Student Sadia Haidari finished in third place, school officials said.
"Both Zach and Zyra can walk the halls of Prussing very, very proud," O'Brien said.
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