Action Hill, M.D. – 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which ended in none of the 93 matches that preceded it.
A spelling.
The final two contenders Vikram Raju and Harini Logan failed to pronounce two words correctly in a row between the 13th and 18th rounds. At that point, the judges decided to spell as many words as possible in the first spell-off – 90 seconds. . Very correctly pronounced Beat the bee.
Logan, an eighth-grade student from Texas, became the 2022 champion by spelling 22 words correctly compared to Raju’s 15 words. Officially, this year’s winning word is defined as “Moorhen” – the medium-sized bird “female of the red cruise”.
Logan, who is competing in his fourth national tournament, said, “Very very real, this is a dream.
Logan, 14, did not progress beyond the meaning of the round on Thursday. She asked the sad bell after the answer of “pull” was rejected.
“I’ll be out, ah, this is it,” Logan said.
However, the judges ruled during the break that his answer might be correct, as it meant “reproduction” or “aggregation.”
Chief Justice Mary Brooks explained the verdict and Logan, aware of his reverse fortunes a few minutes earlier, returned to his seat on stage.
“The few minutes in between were frantic,” said a Montessori school student in San Antonio.
Logan rolled the remaining spells up to the stalemate with Raju, which led to the spelling.
It was as if the “fast hour” of the family quarrel had met the spelling bee. Common questions that contestants may ask the speaker – part of speech, etymology and definition – are not allowed. Each word must be tried – no skips or passes – and the speller must press a passer before the next word appears.
“We implemented the spelling because it was a great opportunity to show the scale of the production of these spells,” said Dr. Bee Managing Director. J. Said Michael Turnill. “Clearly, they showed their deep potential for the competition.”
When Raju first went, Logan made classical music in her ears with noise-canceling headphones in a room so she could not hear his answers.
“At first I was a little worried and decided to take it generously,” Logan said of the spell-off. “We know it’s going to be part of the competition when it comes to competition.”
Logan took home the $ 50,000 cash prize and the Scripps Cup trophy over the awards presented by Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica.
“She’s incredible. She’s smart. She’s ready,” said Grace Walters, one of the former Speller and one of Logan’s coaches. “I’m seen her face many challenges during her journey. She has overcome each of them and is moving forward with an enthusiastic smile.”
Five of the 13 finalists were eliminated in the first round of Thursday’s final – tough on science and plant-related terms such as “Pachydilus”.
To encourage strict memorization of words and emphasize a holistic approach to language, Bee began incorporating multiple choice “word meaning” rounds last year. Competitors did not ask for spelling; Instead, they are given a word with three definitions and they have to choose the right one.
The separate word-of-mouth round on Thursday was a litmus test for all 229 spellers who went to Maryland for the final. The rest of the field is half bent.
One of the four, Kirsten Santos, a sixth-grader from Arizona, also wore a jeans jacket and helmet and was the second junior to advance to the 2022 final.
“Okay,” Santos answered quietly into the microphone.
This training cost Logan almost a shot in the cup. Instead, he advanced to the 10th round along with Raju (second place, $ 30,000 prize), Vihan Sibal (third place, $ 15,000 prize) and 13-year-old Saharsh Wuppala, who left an “L” at the end of “Pinocol”. ”
“I know there are words with ‘goal’ at the end,” he told host Lever Burton later on stage, “I was debating whether to put a second ‘L’.”
One letter – in one word or in multiple choice options – makes all the difference in the spelling bee.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter OBOOMbaca.
