The first Bee Spelling Bee Champion has come a long way to the title
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sam Evans thinks his last shot competing in Scripps National Spelling Bee might have ended before it even started.
“I just moved here from South Florida about five months ago. It was a wonderful place. I really like it,” the eighth grader said just minutes after winning the 2022 First Coast Spelling Bee.
Evans and his parents were heartbroken to learn of their new home in St. Johns proceeded to spell the bee. That’s when Evanses called News4JAX to seek help. The local station contacted 13 other local counties not yet crowned county champions to see if they would allow homeschooled students to participate in their competition.
Union County welcomed him with open arms. Evans won the bee of that county. His winning word is “Richter scale”. That brought him to the First Coast Spelling Bee on Friday, hosted virtually by WJXT-Channel 4. The winner will be eligible to represent Northeast Florida in the national finals.
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“I have competed in regional tournaments for a long time. I just had fun this year,” Evans said.
The fun continued as he beat 13 other local county champions to be crowned as the inaugural 2022 Bee Spelling Bee champion, bringing him to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington. , DC this May.
From his victory: residents.
“I’m glad I knew that,” Evans said.
Evans has been participating in spelling competitions for five years. As an 8th grader, this will be his last chance to qualify for the national tournament, as the competition is open to elementary and middle school students. “I have wanted to go for a long time. So like, just being there would be a great opportunity. Get around all the other cameramen and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
2022 Finalist of the 1st Spelling Competition on the Coast
– Kaleb Hilliard
block 5
Nassau Co.
– Alexander Murnahan
6th Grade
Bradford Co.
– Addison Webb
grade 8
Suwannee Co.
– Cindy Kim
grade 8
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Columbia Co.
– Samuel Evans
grade 8
Union Co.
– Spence Edelstein
Saturday
Flagler Co.
– Kaitlynn Wilson
6th Grade
Putnam Co.
– Jeevan George
block 5
Alachua Co.
– Rena Reddish
Grade 7
Clay Co.
– Marvin Mattair
grade 8
Madison Co.
– Ernest Quesada
Grade 7
Duval Co.
– Deeksha Hariharan
6th Grade
St. Johns Co.
– Kaylyn Murphy
6th Grade
Hamilton Co.
– Dallas Norman
Grade 7
Baker Co.
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