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Cuero speller out of national competition

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  • PAMELA BOND - Victoria Advocate
  • Originally published May 29, 2008 at 11:19 p.m., updated May 29, 2008 at 11:19 p.m.

Madison Simpson’s time at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., ended with a deciduous shrub. She was one letter off in spelling “osoberry.”

“I’m a little disappointed,” Madison said. “But I’m glad I got this far. I got to go to Washington and I’ll enjoy the rest of my time here.”

The 13-year-old seventh grader from Cuero advanced to nationals after winning the regional bee in Victoria on March 25. The national competition began Monday with a written test of 50 words and Madison correctly spelled eight of the 25 words that counted. The spellers did not know which words would be chosen.

In round two of the competition, each speller had the chance to spell one word on stage. That’s where she misspelled osoberry. She spelled it o-s-a-b-e-r-r-y.

A combination of that spelling and the written test determined who would move on to the quarterfinals. Ninety of the 288 contestants advanced.

“It felt pretty good,” Madison said. “You just have to focus on the words and not look at all the people.”

Madison and her family, parents Rosalie and John Simpson, and 11-year-old twin siblings Audrey and Adam, plan to watch the semifinal and final rounds today to cheer on the other spellers. They also plan to tour more of the museums and buildings in the capitol before flying home on Sunday.

“We’re kind of disappointed but also relieved it’s over,” Rosalie Simpson said. “She didn’t lose out on anything. We’re getting to see things we’ve always wanted to see here. And this was all new to us. Now we know how everything works.”

The experience has not discouraged Madison from trying again next year, which will be the last year she’s eligible to compete in the bees.



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