Four-time spelling champion

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Paul Lorenz

February 9, 2010

Eighth-grader Andrew Wellen earns another shot at national spelling bee

By PAUL LORENZ

paul.lorenz@mcleansborotimesleader.com

McLEANSBORO — The fourth time’s a charm?

Andrew Wellen hopes so. The Hamilton County eighth-grader won the countywide Aaron Karcher Memorial Spelling Bee for the fourth straight year to again qualify for the Tri-State Spelling Bee in Evansville, Ind.

The Tri-State winner qualifies for the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Wellen tied for second runner-up in the Tri-State bee last year.

“I guess I’m a little more prepared,” Wellen said of his three years’ experience at the Tri-State Spelling Bee, “but it’s really hard to get there and win it.”

At the county spelling bee Feb. 4 at Hamilton County Junior/Senior High School, Wellen went head-to-head with eighth-grader Erin Bonner — the eventual runner-up — for nine rounds before Bonner stumbled on the word quarantine.

Wellen then correctly spelled the word centennial to win the spelling bee.

Bonner, who also qualified for the county bee as a sixth-grader, said she was “very nervous” going into the event.

“I’m pretty happy to get second place,” she said. “I’m proud to have the privilege to be here.”

Wellen’s four straight wins in the Hamilton County spelling bee is a first in the 38-year history of the event. He was also the first to win the county bee three straight times, though Jeremy Degenhart did win it three times, in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

As the county winner, Wellen, son of John and Debbie Wellen of Dahlgren, received a $200 first prize from Mike and Karen Karcher, parents of the late Aaron Karcher, for whom the local spelling bee is named. Aaron Karcher won the spelling bee in 1996 and ’97.

Six other county spelling bee contestants — Ashley Dodson and Shelby Kaufman of Dahlgren School and River Braden, Leslie Drone, Jacob Moore and Kristen Watkins of East Side School — were eliminated after the third round.

Two other Hamilton County Junior High pupils — Lucendia Adams and Dylan Mitchell — qualified for the county spelling bee but did not compete.

The Tri-State Spelling Bee, featuring spellers from Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, will be March 6 at North High School in Evansville.

Is Hamilton County’s four-time champ going to do anything different to prepare for it?

“I’m going to try to study more,” he said.

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