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April 1, 2007 - 7:55AM
E.V. teen spells way to state title 3rd year in a row
Alex Cawley, For the Tribune
Gilbert home-schooled student Jonathan Horton completed a three-peat Saturday at the state spelling bee in Tempe.
Jonathan, 14, won the bee for the third year in a row and will represent Arizona at the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30 in Washington, D.C. His winning word was “munificence,” which means liberality in bestowing gifts.
The ending looked much the same as 2006. Jonathan and Willis Junior High School seventh-grader Pooja Paode of Chandler outlasted all other competitors for the second year and then went back and forth for several rounds.
Pooja finally stumbled in the 29th round on “sempiternal,” which means everlasting. In order to win the bee, Jonathan had to correctly spell that word and then the championship word.
“Everyone performed well this year,” Jonathan said.
At least Pooja knows Jonathan won’t return in 2008. Only fourth- through eighth-graders are eligible, and Jonathan will be considered a ninth-grader next year.
Jonathan already is making plans for the Washington event, where he finished in a tie for sixth place in 2006. He said he will resume his normal studying routine of four to five hours a day.
That is of course, except on Sundays, when he rests.
“I’m going to begin to study the roots of the words since you can ask questions about those at nationals,” he said.
Nicholas Connelly, a seventh-grader from Mesa’s Shepherd Junior High School, finished third — giving the East Valley a sweep of the top three positions.
This was Nicholas’ first state spelling bee. He said he prepared by reading over a consolidated word list and looked over 349 pages of words.
The state bee was organized by the Arizona Educational Foundation and was videotaped in the KAET-TV (Channel 8) studios at Arizona State University.
The bee will be broadcast at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. April 18, 4:30 a.m. April 23 and 2 p.m. April 29 on Channel 8.
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