Spelling Bee Champ Is a Math Whiz Too

Michael O'Dorney, left, and Jennifer O'Dorney, embrace their son Evan M. O'Dorney, 13, of San Ramon, Ca., after he won the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee with the word "serrefine" in Washington on Thursday May 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin - AP)

The day began with 59 spellers remaining from the record 286 who started the competition Wednesday. The field was narrowed to 15 finalists, but eight were gone after the initial round and two more faltered in the next round, leaving a fivesome of Evan, Nate, 14-year-old Joseph Henares, of Avon, Conn., 13-year-old Prateek Kohli of Westbury, N.Y., and 14-year-old Isabel Jacobson of Madison, Wis.

Joseph faltered on "aniseikonia" (a visual defect), while Prateek missed "oberek" (a Polish folk dance) and Isabel was out on "cyanophycean" (a kind of algae).

The big surprise was that perennial favorite Samir Patel wasn't around for the finals. The 13-year-old Texan, in his fifth and final bee because he can't participate once he's past the eighth grade, had the audience gasping in disbelief when he misspelled "clevis."

After placing third, 27th, second and 14th in his previous bees, Samir ended his bee career with a tie for 34th. He wiped away tears as he talked about his gaffe.

"The first thing I thought was c-l-e-v-i-s, and if I had been slow and cautious like I always am, I would have got it right," he said. "But I just outsmarted myself. It was an easy word. I just made a stupid mistake."

Samir's mother, Jyoti, appealed his dismissal, based on subtle differences in the way the word's final syllable could be pronounced. The appeal was denied.

"In the end, I think I said it right," pronouncer Jacques Bailly said. "I really wanted him to get it right, and I'm really sorry that he or his family have some questions about it."

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On the Net:

Scripps National Spelling Bee: http://www.spellingbee.com