By Tom Weber, KWMU / AP
St. Louis, MO – The National Spelling Bee gets underway later this morning in Washington D.C., and an eighth grader from Mary Institute-Country Day School is among the competitors.
Caroline Rouse, 14, of Ladue is at her first Scripps National Spelling Bee. In March, she correctly spelled 'encephalon' (which is another word for 'brain') to win the local contest that advanced her to the national bee.
But Rouse is also focused on enjoying her time. "I feel like the pressure is even more on the people who have been here before," she said, in an interview this (Wed.) shortly before the competition began. "I feel like everyone who's here for the first time is just trying to have a good time; it's a really new experience.
"So I feel like if I had any expectations for myself for the bee, they've kind of been met just by having fun."
Rouse says she followed through last (Tue) night on one of her spelling bee traditions, when she slept with a few written words under her pillow.
The St. Louis area has been well represented in recent years. Rajiv Tarigopula, of Chesterfield, finished fourth last year and has represented the region for the past four years; he was not eligible to compete this year.
UPDATE: Caroline on Wednesday correctly spelling rhubarb, gurney, and anadiplosis to advance to the semi-finals on Thursday.