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Local spelling champ heads to S-T-A-T-E
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Displaying composure and poise rare even in adults, young Gage Osborne claimed the Championship in the Sonoma County 4th-6th Grade Spelling Bee on Monday.
Osborne is 11, in 5th grade at Sonoma Charter School. Bob Edmondson and Helén Johansson are the 4th-5th grade teachers, and both have lauded Osborne on his spelling and writing skills. Johansson coordinated the students as they competed in school and then in regional competition in February.
Osborne was one of 20 spellers from Sonoma County elementary schools, and in the first round of the bee, most were able to spell words such as “zenith.” Spellers begin dropping out rapidly in subsequent rounds, and Osborne had the audience on tenterhooks when he paused on the middle vowel of his 7th round word.
When he said “o” and correctly finished “claustrophobia,” it was down to two spellers. Nadia Tomaszewski, a 6th grader from Live Oak Charter School in Petaluma, and Osborne went four more rounds, both misspelling or both spelling the same words. Finally, Osborne got “obstreperous” and then “admittance” correct to take first place.
The champion received a trophy, a savings bond, and a wall clock that will be displayed at his school. He and Tomaszewski will be competing in the California State Spelling Bee, to be held this year at Sonoma State University on May 16.
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