For the fifth time in five years, the Tribune Chronicle's annual spelling bee champion is a member of the McFall family.
Rachel, 12, correctly spelled the word "flamboyant" Monday night, beating out nearly 40 other spellers to take home the crown. But the feat was no easy accomplishment.
"It's really hard," said Rachel. "But my family helps me out a lot. So, it gets easier then."
Rachel has an abundance of help at home. She can ask her older brother Josh, who has won the previous three years. Or her older sister Lizzy, the winner in 2006.
"I mean, it's really exciting. I didn't know my little brother and sister were so smart. Now they can definitely out-spell me and it's kind of embarrassing. Especially when I have to ask them how to spell things," said Lizzy.
The kids give a lot of credit to their mom, Patty, who home schools the children.
"I knew she knew the words. But the composure? We didn't know. She hadn't done something like this before. So, if she could get up there, remember and not stumble. That was our goal and we were thrilled she did it," Patty said.
The McFall's foray into the spelling bee world started with the oldest sibling, Megan.
"She saw a girl on the news, on TV, win the national spelling bee," said Patty. "And she said, 'next year I want to do that'."
Now, Rachel gets her chance, as she and the whole family will head to Washington, D.C., for the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals in May.
"I'm very, very thrilled," Rachel said. "Just very excited."
