photo by: Courtesy of Sarah Hoadley

Lawrence middle-schooler Eli Cokelet takes the stage at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.

A Liberty Memorial Central Middle School student this week represented Lawrence — and the state of Kansas — at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Eli Cokelet, 13, qualified for the national bee after winning the 2022 Douglas County Spelling Bee in February and outspelling 86 other kids from around the state a month later at the Kansas Press Association’s Sunflower State Spelling Bee.

But Cokelet couldn’t keep the winning streak going after facing a tricky challenge in the first round of the national bee: the word “bdelloid,” which refers to small invertebrates found in freshwater habitats all over the world. It’s pronounced with a silent “b,” and Cokelet told the Journal-World in a phone call Wednesday that made it something of a trick word.

“It’s one of those words where you kind of have to memorize it, but it was still a great experience to be able to be involved with it,” Cokelet said.

Cokelet exited as the 31st speller in round one, and he chalked that up to bad luck. He said it was just as likely that he could’ve gotten an easier word or another word that requires some memorization rather than relying on pronunciation.

Nonetheless, he said it was a fun experience to be on stage on the national level, and also to meet other participants from around the country. Cokelet said one of the kids next to him was from Florida, and the one on his other side was from California.

photo by: Courtesy of Sarah Hoadley

The 234 participants in the Scripps National Spelling Bee are pictured during the bee’s opening ceremony.

“Honestly, it’s an insane experience, it’s really fun,” Cokelet said. “It’s a shame that it was all canceled or online with COVID the last couple years. Otherwise, I might’ve been able to try to do this multiple times, but it’s still been a great experience.”

This might be the end of Cokelet’s spelling bee career; he said he’s pretty sure the age limit for participating is 14, and he’ll be turning that age this year and starting ninth grade. He said it’s been a great time regardless.

Cokelet and his parents, Sarah Hoadley and Brad Cokelet, have been on the East Coast for the past week, taking time around the bee to go sightseeing and spend time with family and friends in the area. Cokelet said he was especially glad to see his grandparents who live on the East Coast, as well as an old friend who recently moved there. Another highlight has been touring national monuments with his mother.

They’re set to stick around until the weekend, when they’ll return to Lawrence. Cokelet said he’s not sure what’s planned for the rest of their time there, but he will be looking forward to the rest of the trip. He also said he figures his parents have been glad to come along, but most of all that they’re feeling proud of what he’s been able to accomplish.

“That’s a big part of the experience; that makes it awesome,” Cokelet said.