Sydney Biswal named winner of District Spelling Bee

Seventh grade Simmons Middle School student Sydney Biswal won the Hoover City Schools 2012-2013 District Spelling Bee on Jan. 24. 

The bee lasted 27 rounds, running for about an hour and 15 minutes.

“The spelling bee reminded me of the infamous spelling bee a few years ago that lasted two and a half hours. I thought this was going to be a repeat” said Dr. Deborah Camp, the District Spelling Bee Coordinator. 

For rounds five through seven, five of the original 14 school-level winners were still in the running. 

By round seven, Pronouncer Dr. Tara Ferguson decided it was time to move to more challenging words in the Merriam Webster Dictionary list. 

Around the 10th round, the competition was down to Isaiah Lee, a fifth grader from Brock’s Gap Intermediate, and Sydney.

“I am so amazed that two winners could have so many rounds. It was like they were handing off to each other,” Dr. Deborah Camp said.

The spelling battle ended with the word “excoriate,” pronouncing Sydney the winner.

“I was excited that I was able to spell the word correctly and enjoyed it, but I am definitely nervous about the next step” said Sydney. 

Sydney will compete in the Jefferson County Spelling Bee.