Oh so close

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Bright young Arkansans competed Saturday for the title of No. 1 speller in the 2010 Arkansas State Spelling Bee, presented by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

More than 60 students, winners of their county spelling bees, took the stage at the University Theater at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Many words were pronounced, tears were shed, and at the end, a winner was presented.

Esther Park of Pulaski County won first place and will represent the state in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Coming in second was Taylor Holland of Cleburne County, and in third place was Gabi Gorgas of Sebastian County.

Holland, the son of Greg and Kathleen Holland, is a student at Heber Springs Middle School.

“I feel great,” Holland said at the end of the morning. “I studied. There was a word list,” he said of his efforts to prepare.

Holland competed with Gorgas for second place in a spell-off and correctly spelled “conveyance” to win.

“We’re very proud of Taylor,” Holland’s father said. “We wish he could have won, but we’re proud of how well he did.”

Grayson Glen of Vilonia, winner of the Faulkner County Spelling Bee, lasted to Round 9 in Saturday’s competition but had difficulty with the word “cronyism.” He is the son of Chip and Andrea Glenn.

“We’re unbelievably proud of Grayson,” his mother said. “He’s a great kid, and this has been a lot of fun for him.”

Before the spelling bee, Remy Easley of Pope County said he was nervous.

“We’re ecstatic,” said his father, Chad Easley. “This is his second time to be up here. He’s pretty good at what he does.”

“Kitsch” was the word that tripped up Easley.

Lance and Michaelle Wilkins are the parents of Brett Wilkins, the representative from Danville Schools in Yell County. He was unfamiliar with “cachet.”

His mother said she was thrilled for her son to participate because he goes to a small school.

“It was just great for him to win at the school level and then at the countylevel. The audience was great. I couldn’t say enough good about it. I think it shows them they can do anything. It doesn’tmatter if they’re from a small school,” she said.

Courtney Bradford of Van Buren County, a student at Shirley Elementary School, was unfamiliar with “machismo” in Round 1.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her if she had won it,” said her mother, Chris Bradford. “She worked hard. We prepared and prepared, but I think she was nervous.”

Dawson Alley of Perr yCounty lasted until the fourth round when the word “dahlia” got the better of him. He is the son of Glenn and Cathy Alley.

“We’re both very proud of him,” his mother said. “ He’s really studied hard to get here, and we’re proud of him for putting forth a lot of effort.”

Jonathan Rankin of Conway County, a student at Morrilton Junior High School, lasted until he was given the word “ hollandaise” in the fourth round, which eliminated quite a few contestants. Rankin is the son of John and Darla Rankin.

“I’m very proud of him,” Jonathan’s father said. “He did a great job.”

River Valley Ozark, Pages 61 on 03/11/2010

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