HOULTON, Maine — Initially only one emerged victorious as SAD 29’s champion last week at the Houlton High School spelling bee. Then, in a late-breaking and dramatic development, English teacher and spelling bee pronouncer, LaDericka Sewell, declared that both champion Haley Flewelling and runner-up Isaiha Littleton will head to the county spelling bee in Presque Isle on Feb. 3, according to a notification following the bee.
When the suspense-filled bee was all over, Flewelling said she was very nervous and the competition was very well run. “Writing the words before spelling them helped,” she said. Runner-up Littleton commented that he had gone through practice rounds in school and the competition was “very tough.” They each took home certificates for their accomplishments.
Students from Southside School’s sixth grade participated along with seventh- and eighth-graders from the junior high school along with several gifted and talented students including Flewelling. They took their seats across the stage in the high school auditorium with pencils, blank paper and manila folders in hand. Across from them at a table at floor level with dictionaries and notes sat the judges, Wayne Brown and Jen Carr both teachers and Betty Fraser, the high school librarian. Sewell said the spelling bee words for the three grades were age-appropriate.
Principal Marty Bouchard said he was rooting for all the students to do well. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids to get up in front of their peers and showcase their talents. And, it’s nice for kids who are not in the competition to try to listen to words and take a shot at spelling them in their minds.”
A combination of nervous energy and anxiety betrayed some who spoke so softly, responses were, at times, almost inaudible even with amplification through the audio system which was run by students Aaron Anderson and Isaac Brown.
An estimated 300 students from the schools, teachers, parents and guardians filled the auditorium and cheered the contestants at the end of each round as those who misspelled words returned to front row center seats behind the judges.
A field of 17 contestants gradually narrowed down over 11 rounds of increasingly more difficult words. The industrious student contestants sometimes asked for a definition of the word, use in a sentence or just a repetition. Some of the words that took down contestants, were “casserole,” “successful,” “guidance” and “immature.” But, “centipede,” “extinct,” “straightforward” and “scruple” were a piece of cake for the talented spellers.
Before the eighth round, Sewell said: “Six remain.” Soon that number was cut in half and then there were only two — Haley and Isaiha. She, a 12-year-old seventh-grader; he, an 11-year-old sixth-grader. Not exactly a battle of the titans, but close enough.
Before the tenth round, Sewell announced: “You are now looking at a champion and a runner-up.” Young Littleton stood at the microphone appearing as pensive as he had almost every time previously. His word — “suburban.” And, in a momentary flub, he started to transpose a letter and tried to recoup. But, according to the rules, Sewell explained she had to take the first attempt at spelling.
Then, Flewelling in her penultimate triumph successfully tackled the word, “quarantine.” But, the anticipated challenge word was yet to come — “oblige. ” She correctly spelled it and applause drowned out Sewell saying “And, just like that we have a champion.”
If successful at the county bee, the contestants can go on to the state bee and from there, with a win, possibly the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. The national bee offers prizes of cash, scholarships, reference books and savings bonds.
