Spelling champ thought she was given trick word

Reece Murphy
rmurphy@thelancasternews.com
This year’s Lancaster County School District spelling bee was a nail-biter in a way only those who have witnessed such academic competitions can fully understand.
The scene: Afternoon of Jan. 26. Fifteen of the county’s best elementary and middle school spellers on stage at the University of South Carolina Lancaster’s Stevens Auditorium.
The prize: Recognition as the district’s best speller and a chance to compete in the 58th Charlotte Observer Regional Spelling Bee.
The students: Focused, slightly fidgeting, some so nervous you could hear it in their voices.
The first round started with “cosmetic” and spellers began falling out five words later with “tragic,” “caboose” and “behest.”
By the end of the eighth round, only two remained, Buford Elementary School fifth-grader Kaley Morris and Indian Land Middle School eighth-grader Kaila Hayden.
And so began a war of spelling words that would endure for the next 12 rounds.
Back and forth, each spelled some words correctly – “fiasco,” “archive,” diatribe” – and moved on; misspelled others – “hosta,” “praline,” “morgue” – and sat down; and traded places at the mic to spell that final winning word.
A winner finally emerged in the 20th round.
“R-O-U-G-H-...H-E-W-N,” Kaila spelled after thinking about the word for “stone or timber shaped roughly without finishing.”
“That is correct,” word reader Lynn Ferguson said as applause erupted for the 2012 spelling bee champion.
Kaila, the daughter of Rebecca and Tim Hayden
of Indian Land, said she couldn’t believe it.
“I was thinking, it sounds like one of those trick words, with a hyphen, or a space, or a silent letter in there,” Kaila said afterward. “I was just thinking, ‘Did I really win?’ and then I realized, ‘I did!’”
Kaila said when she misspelled her first word – “transect” – she fully expected to be sent home by her fifth-grade competitor, Kaley.
“She was really tough. I was dumbfounded she knew so many words,” Kaila said. “It was intense ... she had such an intellectual air to her.”
Kaley, the daughter of Sandy and Tracy Morris of Lancaster, and a lady of few words in interviews, said she was “like, OMG,” when she heard some of the tough words being read. Kaley said she’s proud of how well she did, and will be back next year.
Lancaster County School District Director of Instruction Dr. Carolyn Jordan, who heads up the event, like Kaila, used the word “intense” to describe Thursday’s competition.
Jordan said she doesn’t remember any other local spelling bee taking so many rounds to reach a successful championship round.
“The interesting thing is it really could have gone to either of the girls,” Jordan said. “Each had multiple opportunities and it wasn’t all hanging on one word, which is good for competition.
“She (Kaley) was holding her own,” Jordan said. “Typically, students her age will gain a little experience and come back. But for now, we’ll be pulling for our champion in the regional.”
While Kaila may have been surprised she won, others who know her, such as ILMS Principal David McDonald, weren’t.
“It’s easy to be proud of a student like Kaila,” he said. “She’s a great kid, and does good things. She studies hard and does good work.
“I know she’s studied hard to win this today,” McDonald said. “We’re all very proud of her and know she’s going to study hard to be ready for the one in Charlotte.”
Kaila and  Kaley won $50 and $20 Walmart gift cards, respectively.
Kaila will compete in the 58th Charlotte Observer Regional Spelling Bee at 10 a.m. Feb. 20 at the ImaginON Wachovia Playhouse in Charlotte.
Cameron Holder of Buford Middle finished in third place in Thursday’s spelling bee.
Other 2012 county competitors were: Adam Bailey, A.R. Rucker Middle; Olivia Johnson, Andrew Jackson Middle; Deanna Gomez, Brooklyn Springs Elementary; Isaiah Mungo, Clinton Elementary; Gabrielle Rivers, Discovery School; Toniyah McCullough, Erwin Elementary; Landon Jordan, Heath Springs Elementary; Kellen Hook, Indian Land Elementary; Danté Seegars, Kershaw Elementary; Kaylee Miller, McDonald Green Elementary; Victoria Burton, North Elementary and Olivia Faulkenberry, South Middle.
Contact reporter Reece Murphy at (803) 283-1151

Reece Murphy

2012 Lancaster County School District spelling bee champion Kaila Hayden of Indian Land Middle School is happy after finding out she spelled “R-O-U-G-H-...H-E-W-N” correctly at the spelling bee Jan. 26 at the University of South Carolina Lancaster’s Stevens Auditorium.

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