PUHI — Leila Nelson correctly spelled “potash” to become the top speller at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria. “When he (Jan TenBruggencate, pronouncer) said “potash,” I didn’t really understand, but when he mentioned potassium, I knew,” said Nelson, a
PUHI — Leila Nelson correctly spelled “potash” to become the top speller at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria.
“When he (Jan TenBruggencate, pronouncer) said “potash,” I didn’t really understand, but when he mentioned potassium, I knew,” said Nelson, a seventh-grader at the Kapaa Middle School.
Nelson grappled with ombudsman, petroglyphs, boodle and isobar during the competition.
“The hardest word was ‘boodle,’” Nelson said. “I didn’t remember seeing it on the study list and I almost spelled it ‘b-o-u-d-l-e.’”
Mary Lardizabal, one of the Kapaa Middle School spelling coaches, said Nelson works hard. This was her second appearance at the bee.
“I didn’t do so well last year,” Nelson said. “But it helped me because I knew how to study for this.”
Nelson edged Waimea Canyon Middle School sixth-grader Fred Ryl Adella in the 15th round after Adella stumbled on “lariat.”
She will be joined at the state meet by Adella with Kane Casillas, a seventh-grader at CKMS, as the alternate.
“This is my first year at the district spelling bee,” Casillas said. “I lost at the school level last year, and this year I had three goals: not to be the first three to fall, to make the final 10 and to make it to the final three.”
Brent Mizutani, 2014 Kauai Complex Area Spelling Bee coordinator, said the bee last Thursday had the largest field of spellers. The opening round took its toll as seven of the 16 spellers ignited the dreaded ding, another pair dropping in the second round.
The winner and runner up will attend the state spelling bee on Oahu March 22. The winner of the state bee will represent Hawaii at the National Spelling Bee.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
