Published: May 29, 2008 02:08 pm      

Local speller stung in national bee

ELK RAPIDS — A local middle school student was eliminated today from the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Chris Rice, 12, a sixth-grader at Elk Rapids' Cherryland Middle School, did not qualify for today's quarterfinal round.

Each speller was given a written test this week and had to spell one word on stage Thursday morning during a preliminary round.

Chris misspelled the ending of "sidereal," which Merriam-Webster defines as "of, relating to, or expressed in relation to stars or constellations."

"I just didn't really know the word at all," said Chris, who earned his trip to the national bee in Washington, D.C. by winning the regional bee sponsored by the Record-Eagle. "I've never seen it before."

He said he wants to compete again next year.

See related story: Precocious speller attains his D.C. goal

Read's Chris' blog at http://blogs.record-eagle.com