Spelling titans square off for county title
Canda Harbaugh/The Western News Lincoln County Spelling Bee finalists Kasey Faur, standing, and Brian Chupp compete Thursday at the Little Theatre in Libby. Chupp, representing Tobacco Valley Home Educators, beat Faur of W.F. Morrison Elementary after the two battled for eight rounds.
W.F. Morrison Elementary School’s Kasey Faur spelled “palatable” only for Brian Chupp of Tobacco Valley Home Educators to correctly string together “adjudicate.”
The two Lincoln County Spelling Bee finalists battled against each other a grueling nine out of the bee’s 15 total rounds Thursday at the Little Theatre in Libby, with 13-year-old Chupp coming out on top.
Down to just the two finalists, Faur spelled “enfranchise,” “paramecium” and “cameo,” while Chupp took “enmity,” “periscope” and “ballerina.”
An animated Faur tapped her foot to the rhythm of the letters, and hopped and gave out a whispered “Yesss!” when judges flashed her a “correct” sign.
Chupp carefully and solemnly spelled out some words that even his parents admitted they couldn’t spell.
It appeared that Chupp would be the victor in the 11th round when Faur misspelled “sonata,” but Chupp took his place at the microphone and slipped up with “gradient.”
Three more rounds followed and, finally, Chupp was given another opportunity to take home the title. The word “cauliflower” moved him to the 15th round and “ambulance” won him the spelling bee.
Only after his victory did Chupp allow a subdued smile to creep across his face.
Chupp lost out in the first round of the county spelling bee two years ago, so he said he hadn’t entertained any ideas of winning and moving up to the state bee March 27 in Billings.
The toughest part of the competition is “nerves,” he said, and one of the most difficult words he had to contend with at Friday’s bee was “psychoanalysis.”
“He didn’t get his spelling from me,” his mom, Pam Chupp, said after the bee.
His dad, Joe Chupp, added, “I was amazed at a few words he got.”
Chupp won a spelling bee against about a dozen other home-schooled children in northern Lincoln County to make it to the county bee. His 12-year-old sister, Stephanie Chupp, was an alternate this year and placed seventh in last year’s county bee.
Roman Graziano of Libby Middle School placed third at Thursday’s bee. Other Libby Middle School participants included Gabe Peck, Kelsi Fox, Galen Graziano, Andrew Witherington, Dominic Voorhies, Leera Woody and Charlene Clemence.
W.F. Morrison Elementary’s Anada Jones, Fortine Elementary’s Tristian Thomas, Trego Elementary’s Ashley Cardwell, and Kootenai Valley Christian School’s Anna Carlson also participated.
Troy Junior High was represented by Nikki Clinton and Bruce Metz, Eureka Elementary was represented by Miles Plemmons and Lucas Blankers, and Eureka Junior High was represented by Alika Gillard and Ruxandra Ionescu.
Eureka Christian School’s alternate, Moshe Henderson, participated in Timothy Eash’s place. Other bee alternates included Troy Junior High’s Billy Pillans, W.F. Morrison Elementary’s Kaylee Stecher, and Kootenai Valley Christian School’s Brittany Stewart.