Published: March 17, 2009 11:27 pm      

13-year-old follows brother’s footsteps to win bee

Adam Dinkledine has wanted to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee since he was 5.

He sat in the audience at the Kokomo Tribune Regional Spelling Bee that year as his older brother, Aaron, won, and watched Aaron on TV as he competed in the 2001 national bee. Since then, he said, he has prepared for his own turn.

Tuesday, he earned his chance, winning the 2009 Kokomo Tribune Regional Bee. He spelled “railroadiana” to win the championship, and said later he guessed at how to spell it after asking for the definition and language of origin.

“My mom and dad always told me to get as much information about the word as possible,” he said.

Adam Dinkledine, 13, is a seventh-grade student. He is the son of Thomas and Susan Dinkledine of Russiaville. He represented Kokomo Area Schools at Home.

He said he’s competed twice before, but this is his first win.

“It’s been a lot of hard work. I’ve been disappointed the last couple of years.”

Gabriel Abney, a seventh-grader from Central Middle School, won second place, followed by Tristen Carlson, a seventh-grader from Rochester Middle School.

Thirty-three students from five counties competed in the bee, in Indiana University Kokomo’s Kresge Auditorium.

Pronouncer Joe Dunbar started the bee by having each student congratulate those around them for being their school champions, then asked each one to tell the person next to them a word about Ireland, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Those words became their words for the practice round.

In round one, four spellers were eliminated, on words such as “mahi mahi,” “tithe” and “crimson.” Ten more were eliminated in round two, on words including “percolate,” “apathy,” “alderman” and “matinee.”

Some spellers spelled their words confidently, while others ending their spellings in a questioning tone, unsure if they were correct. Many showed visible relief when told they were still in the contest. Dunbar asked the audience to applaud each person who left the contest as he or she returned to a seat, to the comfort of his or her family. One young speller sat next to her mother, leaning her head against her shoulder.

Eight more spellers took their seats during round three, on words including “synopsis,” “ingenious,” “triumvirate” and “clapboard.” There were tense moments in round four, especially as one speller slowly worked out the correct spelling of “longevity.” He received louder than normal applause when Dunbar told him he was right. Six more spellers were eliminated in that round, on words such as “champagne,” “squalor” and “disastrous.”

Only six spellers entered round five, and two were eliminated on the words “fervent” and “phoenix.” One more went out in round six, misspelling “cosmozoic,” leaving only Dinkledine, Abney and Carlson.

Abney misspelled “mimosa,” then Carlson misspelled “rhapsody,” before Dinkledine stepped to the microphone and correctly spelled “separability.”

Dunbar told him he had to spell one more word, and if he was right, he was champion. If he was not, Abney and Carlson were back in the game.

Then Dunbar gave the word: “Railroadiana.”

“What does it mean?” Dinkledine asked, to laughter from the audience.

Dunbar gave him the definition and language of origin, and then Dinkledine began to spell. His mouth dropped open in disbelief when Dunbar announced he was champion.

“I was not sure at all about that word,” he said later.

Abney and Carlson competed in a tie breaker to determine second and third places.

Adam Dinkledine said his brother, the former champion, has given him several tips about competing in spelling bees. He thinks the most important piece of advice is “to stay calm while I’m on stage.”

Aaron Dinkledine, now an electrical engineering student at Purdue, does not think he can give his brother much more advice before the national bee, May 26-28 in Washington, D.C.

“He probably knows most of the advice already,” he said.

Adam Dinkledine said he remembers watching his brother win, and he’s wanted to go to nationals, “probably since I could read.”

He looks forward to competing at nationals.

“I think it will be fun to learn new words and meet a lot of people.”

Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com



What does it mean?

Adam Dinkledine won the Kokomo Tribune Regional Spelling Bee on the word “railroadiana.” According to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, “railroadiana” is a noun meaning “literature of or relating to railroads, or the history

or lore of railroads.”