The Warren County Spelling Bee started with 15 participants.

There were some ‘goofy’ words, but the students were generally able to ‘remember’ their lessons and studies. Sometimes, they ‘combed’ through their memories or ‘jotted’ ‘entire’ words on their hands.

In one round, the efforts of ‘cruel’ ‘goblins’ running ‘unnoticed’ around nearby ‘lairs’ did not prevent anyone from spelling correctly.

Some of the words – like ‘incantations’ and ‘indecipherable’ – kept contestants standing under the hot lights on the Beaty-Warren Middle School stage for extended periods. At other times, students were able to ‘hurtle’ through and return to their seats.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Bowen Lindell, a seventh-grader at Youngsville Middle School, spells a word in an early round of the Warren County Spelling Bee on Wednesday. Lindell went on to take second place.

After 13 rounds, just a ‘duo’ remained.

Kaitlyn Zuzzio, a seventh-grader at Beaty-Warren Middle School, and Bowen Lindell, a seventh-grader from Youngsville Middle School, continued head-to-head without a mistake for seven more rounds.

First, Lindell would ‘divulge’ the correct spelling of his word.

Zuzzio followed immediately, not giving him a chance to ‘dissuade’ her from taking first place.

The ‘meditation’ continued, with the scattered spectators ‘engrossed’ by the spectacle, neither contestant wanting to finish ‘hindmost.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Michael Hulse, an eighth-grader at Tidioute Community Charter School, spells a word in an early round of the Warren County Spelling Bee on Wednesday.

They demonstrated their ‘authority’ over the list and there was not even a chance of an ‘eviction’ until round 21.

Zuzzio stumbled first, missing ‘parishioner.’

Lindell had correctly spelled ‘flamingoes’ (the guide said either ‘flamingos’ or ‘flamingoes’ was acceptable) and he had a chance to win by correctly spelling his next word. The rules specify that when only one speller in a round gets a word right, that speller has to spell an additional word to win. If not, all spellers eliminated in that round are back in.

It wasn’t in the stars. Lindell missed ‘astrologers,’ and Zuzzio was back in the contest.

They changed order, Zuzzio going first through round 25. Along the way, they spelled ‘shrike,’ ‘stalagmite,’ ‘traitorous,’ and ‘condominium.’

Zuzzio correctly spelled ‘intercede.’

Lindell missed ‘defector,’ and it was Zuzzio’s chance to close out the contest.

She did – with ‘scuttlebutt.’

“I was really nervous” after she missed ‘parishioner,’ Zuzzio said.

She had finished third in the school event at Beaty. When those who finished ahead of her in that contest were knocked out, she knew her chances had improved.

Zuzzio didn’t run into a lot of unfamiliar words during the contest. Asked if she is a reader, she said, “All the time.”

Her favorite genre is historical fiction.

And she had spent hours practicing for the competition.

Students are given a list that includes the words that could be on the list.

“I had mom read the words,” Zuzzio said.

“We practiced every night and every morning,” Maria Groeneveld said. “I’m very proud.”

Zuzzio was ready for what would have been word 219 – epaulet or epaulette. The middle of the word matches her father’s name – Paul Zuzzio.

But, the contest ended on word 208.

Zuzzio will represent Warren County at the Western Pennsylvania Spelling Bee, which will be held virtually in March. Lindell will serve as the alternate in the event Zuzzio is unable to attend.

“We’re going to do a lot of studying,” Groeneveld said.

Zuzzio does have much of a sense for how she might do at the larger event. She said ‘syzygy’ is on the list of words. She might not be ready yet, but she’s all set to get to work.

“I’m excited,” Zuzzio said.

The studying had to wait a little bit, though.

“Ice cream to celebrate,” Groeneveld said.

“Moose tracks,” Zuzzio said.

From the Times Observer, congratulations to all of the county’s champions:

Magdalene Bennett, Lily Benton, Courtney Birchard, Maxwell Bratz, Aubrey Carrington, Gabriella Hodak, Ryan Huck, Michael Hulse, Bobby Johnson, Bowen Lindell, Keaton Destro, Alyssa Wismar, Adam Yeager, Conner Zaffino, and Kaitlyn Zuzzio.