Monmouth and Ocean Students Compete in Spelldown at Monmouth University

It was a perfect night for Ray Wang at 2011 Spelldown Regional Spelling Bee at Monmouth University's Pollak Theatre on Tuesday night.

Ray, an eighth-grader from William R. Satz Intermediate School in Holmdel, was the last student standing out of the 99 who competed in this year's Spelldown, and he spelled every word he was given correctly over the course of two days.

He capped off the night by spelling two words correctly after runner-up Orli Weiss, a sixth-grader from Solomon Schechter Day School in Marlboro, incorrectly spelled "indiscretion." Ray then had to spell two words correctly in order to win and did so by spelling "corollary" and "leviable."

On Tuesday night, Ray was one of 39 students from Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex schools, representing grades four through eight, who won their school's spelling competitions. Now, Ray will be headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in June with a chance to become the national champion.

"It fells really great," Ray said. "At my school competition I got one word wrong, but still got a chance to come back and win. After that I took my studying to another level."

Ray said he studies 30 minutes on weeknights and one hour or more on weekends. 

He is following in the footsteps of his sister, Lucy Wang, who came in second place in the regional spelling bee in 2009. Ray said he is ready to take on the challenge at the next level and make his family proud.

"My parents and sister are going to join me (at the national spelling bee)," Ray said. "I can't wait to tell all my friends at school, because they know how much I've been studying for this."

Orli said she was happy she made it as far as she did.

"I'm surprised, because I didn't think I'd get this far," Orli said. "I was happy when I got to the final 10, and I felt exuberant when I got to the final four."

Leave it a spelling whiz like Orli to describe her feelings with a word like "exuberant."

The battle for third place was one of the more intriguing parts of the evening. Aine Donohue, a seventh-grader from St. Rose Grammar School in Belmar, defeated Scott Levine, a fifth-grader from Wemrock Brook School in Manalapan, in a spell-off. Since both Aine and Scott were eliminated in the same round before Ray and Orli were the final two spellers remaining, a spell-off was needed to crown the third-place winner.

Aine correctly spelled "pecuniary" and Scott misspelled "affidavit," giving her third place.

In addition to his first-place trophy and trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Ray also won the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award (a $100 U.S. Series  EE Savings Bond), Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary and a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online Student Edition. 

Orli and Aine each won a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com, a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online Student Edition and second- and third-place trophies, respectively. Orli also received a copy of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.

Other local students made it into the second day of the Spelldown, a feat that is not easy for students. Below is a list of some of the local spellers who competed on Tuesday night.

• Quentin Isaiah Taylor: Grade 4, Monmouth Academy in Howell: Quentin was eliminated in the second round after misspelling "motif."
• Joseph Cavanaugh: Grade 8, St. Dennis School in Manasquan: Joseph was eliminated in the first round for misspelling "patel."
• Tyler Brooks: Grade 8, H.W. Mountz Elementary School in Spring Lake: Tyler was eliminated in the third round after misspelling "mozzarella."
• Cooper Barth: Grade 6, Frank Antonides Middle School in West Long Branch: Cooper was eliminated in the third round after misspelling "narcissistic."
• Joey Cole: Grade 8, Toms River Intermediate School North: Joey was eliminated in the second round after misspelling "efficacy."
• Andrew Pidduck: Grade 8, G. Harold Antrim Elementary School in Point Pleasant Beach: Andrew was eliminated in the first round after misspelling "bezoar."