Bee-hind the Scenes at the Scripps National Spelling Bee

By Anastacia Mott Austin

For a while there, it looked like Sameer Mishra, the eventual winner of this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee, might lose a round when he was presented with a word that seemed awfully risqué for a spelling bee.

After hearing the word, Mishra, clearly surprised, repeated, "Numbnut?" as the crowd laughed. The official pronouncing the words said, "No, that’s numnah, a sheepskin pad used between the back of a horse and the saddle." "Oh, numnah!" said Mishra, adding, "That’s a relief," before correctly spelling the word.

His poise under pressure was partly what led the Indiana 13-year-old to grab this year’s trophy, spelling the very apropos word "guerdon," which means something earned.

Though the mood was often tense as the contestant field was slowly narrowed in successive rounds, there were moments of humor also, as when one girl asked the announcer, "Can you use [the word] in a song?" To which announcer Jacques Bailly said, "You really don’t want me to."

Another contestant jokingly asked if he could be given another word. (His request was denied.)

It takes a special type of kid to thrive in the very competitive environment of national spelling bees, and parents interviewed said that sometimes the parents of the spellers get carried away.

Reporters caught up with the moms of repeat contestants Tia Thomas and Matthew Evans, both 13, who had developed a friendly rivalry and helped each other study. "There's definitely some pressure involved when the stakes are higher," said Pamela Thomas, Tia’s mother.

Thomas added that some families get too caught up in that pressure and forget that their children are just kids, after all. "You do have to encourage them, and sometimes it may seem like you're kind of pushing them," said Thomas to reporters. "But, yeah, you don't want them to hate you, or you don't want to pressure them too much because they are children."

Matthew was eliminated in the quarterfinals (exiting the stage to a standing ovation that he seemed oblivious to), saying tearfully, "It's disappointing. I know a lot of people were rooting for me."

Tia Thomas kept going and ended up in third place after being eliminated with an incorrect spelling of "opificer" (a skilled or artistic worker).

Kids competing in "the Bee" study dictionaries religiously, some claiming to have gone through every single word. Others review Greek and Latin for common roots of words and the rules that accompany them.

Contestants told reporters they spent four or five hours per day studying words and their spellings. Some have wondered, how much is too much?

Child development experts say that as long as a child is enjoying the experience, only good can come of it. And it beats spending the same four hours a day spacing out to video games and "SpongeBob Squarepants."

"To be a champion, I think it takes a certain tenaciousness and a will to succeed, and that will pretty much take you far in anything," said Barrie Trinkle, 1973’s winner, to reporters.

Many kids who have been involved in the intense spelling competitions go on to score very highly on their SATs, attend prestigious colleges, and use their spelling skills and abilities to display grace under pressure for careers in neuroscience or law.

When asked of their plans for the days following the competition, some kids said they would just get right back into the swing of studying words, getting a jump on next year. Others, like Thomas, said she was going to "read and watch TV" for at least a few days.

Matthew Evans said he was "…kind of looking forward to this summer when I can take a break and do non-spelling stuff."

Some of those eliminated in earlier rounds will not be able to stop themselves from ruminating over the word that got them eliminated. Spelling bee champs can often tell you what word either won them a contest or put them out of the game.

Take Frank Neuhauser, the winner of the national spelling bee’s very first competition in 1925, who was in the audience during this year’s Bee.

The 94-year-old Neuhauser didn’t hesitate when asked what his winning word was. "Gladiolus," he announced cheerfully. "It was a lot easier back then," Neuhauser said to the small crowd waiting for his autograph. "There were only eight competitors instead of 288. I'd never make it now."

Neuhauser won $500 in gold pieces. Current winner Mishra stands to gain about $37,000 in cash and prizes.