It was this eighth-grader’s first-ever spelling bee. Now he’s the countywide champion.

An eighth-grader at Maranatha Christian School won the county spelling bee Thursday, beating his closest rival after a one-on-one face-off that lasted 13 rounds.

Benjamin Reinhard, 14, won by correctly spelling the word kenosis, which refers to the act of a Christian person voluntarily giving up their personal rights and ambitions and accepting suffering, according to the spelling bee’s definition.

“It feels crazy,” said Benjamin after the event at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA. “I’m actually, like, in shock right now.”

As the winner, Benjamin will represent San Diego County in the the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the Washington, D.C., area in late May.

Alyssa Meulemans, an eighth-grader at Saint Columba Catholic School in Serra Mesa, was the runner-up and will compete in Washington if Benjamin can’t make it.

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