‘M-o-n-o-n-u-c-l-e-o-s-i-s. Mononucleosis.? According to Webster’s Dictionary, it’s an abnormal increase of mononuclear white blood cells in the blood. And it’s a word that Rae Moors, junior at Goodrich High School, knows well. Spelling the word correctly made her the best speller in Genesee County of her age group.
Moors joined classmate Diana Svinarich, who placed third, at the Genesee Intermediate School District on Feb. 19. There were 15 contestants ready to compete in the GAC Spelling Bee. It took 28 rounds for the judges to declare Moors the winner. In a round, all contestants must each spell a different word. At the end of the round, judges announce the names of those whose words were spelled correctly. If a contestant’s name is not announced, they must take a seat in the audience, and the rounds continue until one contestant is left in the final round.
Moors, who has been competing in spelling competitions since the fourth grade, was no stranger to the contest. This is her third time placing at a high school spelling bee. In 2008, she took home the first place medal, and in 2009, the third. It’s no wonder she was prepared to tackle words like ‘lethargic,? ‘Chaucerian,? ‘gaud,? and ‘ominous? at this year’s competition. ‘I never really study for spelling bees,? Moors said. ‘But I read a lot. So when I hear I word I think, I’ve read that before, and then it’s easier to picture.? After winning the eleventh grade competition, Moors and second place winner Lydia Seale of Mount Morris, advanced to the ‘Champion of Champions? competition later that night. In the Champion of Champions competition, the first and second place winners of each high school grade level compete against each other for an overall winner. Moors was eventually knocked out with the word ‘Sevruga,? a type of Russian caviar from the Caspian Sea.
Moors plans to eventually major in music or creative studies, and although her impressive vocabulary won’t necessarily be vital to success in that type of career, she still believes it’s a good skill to have.
‘Spelling is one of those things that just comes naturally to me. I know, right? Why couldn’t it be calculus or chemistry? But I’ll take what I can get.?