PUHI — “Magnolia,” spelled correctly by Calvin Bailey, earned him top honors Thursday night at the Kauai Area Complex Spelling Bee presented by Kamaaina Kids at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
“I prayed 15 times — both there and here,” the eighth-grade student at St. Theresa School said, reacting to the red “Word Correct” sign hoisted by the panel of judges before parents, school spelling coaches and supporters. “I was in a spelling bee back in school in Virginia, but I got out. This is the first time I’ve ever won a spelling bee.”
Bailey topped a field of 18 finalists representing schools from Hanalei to Kekaha, having survived 11 rounds before killing “flemish” and “magnolia” in the 12th round to claim the Kauai island award.
“I kept trying to remember how the word looked in my mind,” Bailey said. “As there were less people remaining, I kept saying how my chances at winning were getting better.”
En route to the top, Bailey survived “monomania,” “treacherous,” “cruiser,” “android,” “gunnysack,” and more.
“I knew most of the words,” Bailey said. “When other spellers had their turn, I would see the words and spell them in my head. If I got it wrong, I got tensed up and I could feel my heart beating faster.”
Sophia Sculley, a sixth-grade student at the Hanalei School, secured the runner-up spot after a “gazelle” misstep.
Both Bailey and Sculley will represent Kauai at the March 9 state spelling bee on Oahu, and provide the Garden Island pair an opportunity to advance to the national bee.
“I was nervous,” Sculley said, surrounded by a proud family. “I would be spelling words in my head as the other spellers got there turn, and when I had to do the microphone, I was nervous.”
The finalists represented winners from their respective schools that hosted their own bees.
Michael Tittnich, winner of the Kapaa Middle School bee, finished in third place after stumbling on “imperative” in round 11.
Other finalists included Emman Carinio and Mailani Yasay of Eleele School, Charles Brown III and Jerson Dikilato of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Jason Burton joining Sculley as the representatives from Hanalei School, and Saebrie Pegeder and Dylan Watanabe from Island School.
Alex Henriques joined Tittnich from Kapaa Middle School, Ocean Amador and Rain Hannsz came from the Kilauea School, and Kanoe Dusenberry joined Bailey from St. Theresa School.
Akela Kosewich and Charlz Visitacion represented Waimea Canyon Middle School, with Lauryn Hashimoto and Kekoa Miyasato representing Elsie Wilcox Elementary School.
