'Aulos' spells defeat for Colorado boy

By Ansley Haman Special to the Rocky

Published May 30, 2008 at 1:42 p.m.
Updated May 30, 2008 at 1:42 p.m.

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Photo by Bill Clark / Scripps Howard News Service

Jake Smith was knocked out of the spelling bee competition today.

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WASHINGTON — The elder of two brothers representing Colorado in the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Contest was knocked out of the competition today by a five-letter word.

Jake Smith, 13, misspelled aulos, a Greek woodwind musical instrument. He spelled the word A-L-L-O-S.

The eighth-grader at Aspen Creek K-8 School tied for 25th place, improving his ranking from last year, when he represented the Rocky Mountain News and came in 60th in the contest.

On Thursday, Jake's younger brother, Alec Smith, 11, got tripped up on spatiography.

Today, 45 spellers began the first semifinal round, but only 24 were left standing at the end of it.

After he finished spelling, Jake stood in the hallway and signed his autograph in the program of another girl.

"In some way, I still want to be up there spelling," Jake said.

However, he said he was relieved there was no more pressure.

He also said he'd achieved one of his goals for the 2008 national bee — to appear on ESPN.

The semifinals aired live on ESPN from 9 a.m. to noon today, and championship finals will air on KMGH-Channel 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. today.

Jake said friends and family called all morning "just saying good luck."

Before Jake took the stage, his mom, Kirstin Smith, gave him a kiss on the cheek. He touched fists with his dad, David Smith.

"He's steady as a rock," his dad said. "He knows it's in God's hands at this time. This is it, he loves it."

Jake represented the Rocky in 2007, but rules didn't permit him to compete again for that sponsorship.

So he and his father moved to an apartment in Broomfield for most of the school year so he could compete in the Boulder Camera's regional bee. Smith said the move also allowed him to scout for a new home.

Jake won the Boulder title, and Alec won the only other sponsorship in the state, from the Rocky. Alec is a sixth-grader from Summit View Elementary School in Douglas County.

Smith said he and Jake would be moving back to the family's house in Douglas County after the bee. There are no immediate plans for members of the family to relocate again – even for spelling.

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