Florida Teen Claims National Spelling Bee Crown
Say what you want about Florida, but we’ve got ourselves a spelling prodigy in the house! Now i won’t be joining any spelling completion anytime soon. I have a hard time spelling “Cape Coral” or “Tallahassee” without the help of spell check. Not this young Floridian. According to CBS News, it’s Dev Shah, a 14-year-old wunderkind from Largo, Florida, just dropped a linguistic bomb on the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
When they asked Shah about his mind-blowing victory, he couldn’t help but express his disbelief. I mean, can you blame the guy? He’s still quaking like an over-caffeinated chihuahua. And just picture the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he vanquished his final opponent, poor Charlotte Walsh from Arlington, Virginia. Walsh stumbled on “daviely,” giving Shah the golden opportunity to swoop in and claim the spelling throne. The suspense is killing me!
To secure his rightful spot in the Spelling Bee hall of fame, Shah had to tackle a total of 15 words. It’s no small feat to become the 95th champion of this prestigious competition, let alone walk away with a sweet $50,000 cash prize! Shah’s spelling skills are the investment of a lifetime, folks! Forget the stock market; just learn how to spell.
UnBEElievable! #Speller36 Dev Shah representing the SNSB Region One Bee in Largo, Florida is the Champion of the 95th Scripps National Spelling Bee. His winning word? Psammophile. 🐝 #spellingbee pic.twitter.com/ebM8jUU6xZ
— Scripps National Spelling Bee (@ScrippsBee) June 2, 2023
When it all boiled down to the final moments, Shah and Walsh remained standing. Shah, the master of tongue-twisters, aced his last word, “bathypitotmeter.” Meanwhile, poor Walsh stumbled on “daviely,” sealing her fate as the runner-up. Better luck next time, Charlotte! Maybe invest in a spelling coach or a good luck charm shaped like a dictionary.
National Spelling Bee Spelling Master:
Thankfully, this year’s spelling showdown didn’t turn into an eternal saga. No need for a dreaded “spell-off,” sparing us from endless hours of alphabet-induced torture. The organizers had the good sense to introduce the spell-off last year, after an unbelievable eight-way tie in 2019. I mean, can you imagine the struggle of coming up with a witty headline for that madness? Thank goodness for small mercies.
So big congratulations to you Dev Shah! You’re the spelling sensation of the year! May your words always be spelled right, and may your legs find solace in their newfound steadiness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DJmYte32N0