3rd grader is ‘champion’ speller
Staff writer
Marion Elementary’s spelling champion spells her name A-l-e-x-a-n-d-r-a C-a-r-l-s-o-n.
But she first had to spell “champion” to become the winner after nine rounds Friday afternoon at the school gym.
Alexandra edged runner-up and fellow third-grader Ryder Giles, Alexandra’s fifth-grade sister, Maria, and 14 other spellers from grades three through five.
The trio will represent Marion at the county bee Feb. 3 in Hillsboro. Maria will be an alternate.
The casualties started right away with four spellers being eliminated in the first round.
By the time the fifth round rolled around, only Ryder, Alexandra, and Maria were left.
Maria bowed out in the sixth round on “knelt,’’ leaving the third graders to battle it out three more rounds.
Ryder couldn’t spell “despair” to start the ninth round but still stayed alive pending Alexandra correctly spelling her final two words.
His hopes were dashed when Alexandra nailed “youthful” and “champion” to become the champion.