The East Noble Spell Bowl team competed last Saturday at Loeb Playhouse at Purdue University, West Lafayette. It was not a new experience going to Purdue because the team has competed at the State Competition for many years. The season became different when the team came in second in their class with a score of 84; winning them the silver medal! Only six words were missed out of ten rounds; those words being occlusion, pirouette, sarcophagus, balbriggan, rococo, and excrescence. Those words may look like they’re easy to spell, but try memorizing them and over 3,000 other words. Still think it’s easy?
Penn High School and Martinsville High School both received first place gold medals as they were named the top spelling schools in the state spelling all 90 words correctly; second best high school spelling team in the state was John Glenn High School who received an 87; and third in the state out of all the participating schools was East Noble coming in at 84. It was definitely an accomplishment and an improvement from the regional qualifier competition. East Noble qualified for state with a score of 69 and ended up going in seated as fifth in the Class 1 division and they moved up to second in the Class 1 division. For the seniors it was a great way to go out with a bang.
Seven of the ten Spell Bowl members spelled perfect in their round meaning they didn’t miss any of the nine words they were given. Those seven individuals were Freshmen Kaelyn Bender and Gavin Herron, Sophomores Phillip Phan and Alyssa Yoquelet, Junior Emily Savage, and Seniors Josh Tew and Myra Finton. Junior Rachel Smolinske got a near perfect ribbon spelling 8 of nine words correctly, Freshman Meghann McCoy received a 7, and Sophomore Brian Tew received a 6.
This team worked hard all season and it’s not a short season either. They start with two practices a week from March until August, then they hit it hard with two hour practices Monday through Thursday. It’s a long haul and something that requires dedication and drive otherwise the team won’t be successful. East Noble Knights Spell Bowl team deserved the second place they received because they worked their butts off all season long. They put in a lot of hours after school to make it to state and succeed and at the end of the season when they look back they realize all the hard work got them to where they are.
As a team they couldn’t have a better coach. Mr. Avery puts up with all of their antics, all the complaints, and all the long hours to make lists that breaks up the monotony of over 3,000 words. He gives his best and works just as hard if not harder than the team so that they can be successful. In all honesty, the team would not be where they are today without Coach Bob Avery. He is the life line and a detrimental part of the East Noble Spell Bowl team and without him there would be no team. Thank You Mr. Avery!