Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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  • Jan-Michael Stump

    REGIONAL SPELLING BEE

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    REGIONAL SPELLING BEE

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    REGIONAL SPELLING BEE
March 15, 2010

Practice makes perfect for bee champ

BY SHERI McWHIRTER Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY -- Austin Wolfgram used both hands to point at his father in the crowd during the Grand Traverse Regional Spelling Bee after he correctly spelled "elixir."

Austin, 13, of Cherryland Middle School in Elk Rapids, incorrectly spelled the word earlier in the week as he practiced. He signaled to his father during Sunday's bee to show he knew the practice helped him during the competition.

A couple dozen words later, Austin won the bee and a trip to the country's capital to participate in the national competition.

Austin won the regional bee with the word "meloplasty," following a lengthy back-and-forth battle with Nicole Blakkan-Esser, 11, of West Middle School in Traverse City.

"M-E-L-O-P-L-A-S-T-Y," Austin said, and then a wide grin spread across his face when a look from the judges told him he'd won.

Nicole previously stumbled on "coriander," misplacing the "i" with an "e." She took second place.

"I'll never forget how to spell it again," Nicole said.

Top speller Austin said it felt good to rise to the top.

"It feels pretty awesome. I get to go to Washington, D.C.," he said.

Nicole vows to return to the regional bee next year for another try at winning.

Austin beat 29 other middle-school students during the regional bee on the stage at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City. Students came from across northwestern Lower Michigan, including Antrim, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Emmet, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

The fidgety students sat in rows on the stage and one-by-one approached a microphone to receive their words. A ringing bell signified a misspelled word and the group slowly began to grow smaller.

The event was sponsored and organized by the Record-Eagle.

Austin will represent the region in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in early June.

"I'm very proud," said Vern Wolfgram, Austin's father. "I'm impressed with his perseverance."

Canyon O'Brien, 13, of Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City, took third place.

Chris Rice, 13, of Rapid City, also attends Austin's school. Chris won the regional bee two years ago and hoped to score another trip to the nation's capital, but he tripped on the word "streusel" in the fifth round.

Abigail Fox, 9, from Eastern Elementary in Traverse City, also stood out during Sunday's competition. She was the youngest to compete this year, the only fourth-grader.

"I like to read a lot," she said before the spelling bee. "I have a good feeling."

Austin not only moves on to the national spelling competition but also will receive a free one-year subscription to Britannica Online, a $100 U.S. savings bond and a dictionary.

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