Spelling bee winner finds lucky number 1

Sean Jones, the first in the line-up of competitors, drew No.1 to be the first speller. He finished first in the Douglas County sixth-grade spelling bee at Gardnerville Elementary School on Tuesday.

"Puree" was the word to clinch the win after 10 rounds for the 12-year-old Meneley Elementary School student.

Besides having their concentration affected by nerves, the other 20 spellers fell by the wayside, stumped by words such as stroganoff, sorcerer, quesadilla, javelin, aerosol, petroleum and stucco.

Sean said he used the spelling bee guide for study strategies and that his whole family helped him prepare.

"I study as hard as I can," he said. "I wouldn't be able to spell without knowing the word origins. My parents, uncle and sister help me. My mom helped by reminding me to study."

Sean's father Sean, mother Jessica, 10-year-old sister Caitlin and uncle Chris Jones were in house as his support team. Sean will be accompanied by his uncle when he goes to the state competition March 25 in Las Vegas.

In round nine, Sean seemed stumped on the word "frugal" until he asked the judges for the origin of the word. After he was told the word had a Latin root, Sean correctly spelled the word.

Although the Lake Tahoe schools' classes had been canceled due to snow, the three Kingsbury Middle School students participated in the competition by speaker phone.

After he was announced the winner of the 45-minute competition, Sean told the audience of about 40 parents, siblings, teachers and principals, "I want to tell Camille, 'good job.'"

Coming in second is Camille Labadie from Pinon Hills, who will be the sixth-grade alternate. Douglas County School District will also send the seventh- and eighth-grade spelling bee winners to the state competition. State winners will go on the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., on May 30-31.

Sixth-grade spelling bee competitors at Gardnerville Elementary School on Feb. 27

-- Meneley Elementary School:

Sean Jones

Anthony Sellers

Breana Lummus

-- Gardnerville Elementary School:

Christian Arzadon

Alton Ta

Robbie Resnik

-- Jacks Valley Elementary School:

Jade Graver

Shawna Grady

Molly O'Farrell

-- Kingsbury Middle School:

Cody Gibson

Anders Chapland

Austin Derungs-West

-- Minden Elementary School:

Jordan Chappell

Hunter Myers

Elizabeth McNeilly

-- Piñon Hills Elementary School:

Camille Labadie

Jimmy King

Jake Passas

-- Scarselli Elementary School:

Matt Johnson

Allison Kraten

Bowman Littrell