(KNSI) – Minnesota will not be represented at Thursday’s Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.
Royalton eighth grader William Rausch advanced to the semifinals Wednesday but was eliminated in the sixth round. His word was vargueno, which is a wooden cabinet with a Spanish and Oriental influence that first appeared in the Middle Ages and became a common piece of furniture starting in the 16th Century.
This year marked Rausch’s second appearance at the National Spelling Bee. In 2023, he finished tied for 173rd. Rausch is also on his school’s Knowledge Bowl Team, and he has a special interest in geography.
There were 245 participants from all 50 states. Nine Minnesota students made it to the big show.
The other local student was math whiz Leyla Jacobson, a seventh grader at St. Cloud North Junior High. This year was her first time on the national stage. Jacobson previously won the Math Masters and Math Olympiad for District 742.
The final eight spellers will duke it out Thursday night in Maryland.
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KNSI News reporter Jake Judd contributed to this story.
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