Terre Haute South spellers vying for another grand champion title
Nov. 8—Terre Haute South Vigo High School's spell bowl team is already the Class 1 state champion this year, and on Saturday, members will seek their second overall grand champion title.
At recent regional competition, the team had a perfect score, spelling 90 out of 90 words correctly, earning them the Class 1 title among the largest high schools in the state.
On Saturday, the team advances to the overall state (grand) championship at Purdue University.
This is the 21st consecutive time Terre Haute South has qualified for the state championship.
"South has a kind of legacy," said Peggy Grabowski, spell bowl coach. "I think that's something South should be proud of and these students should be proud of. I'm really proud of them."
The key to continued success is "practice, practice, practice and having motivated kids that are in it with me," Grabowski said. "I have a passion for words. I love words. I've coached for so many years. But having the kids have the same passion and wanting to do well — that drives me."
In 2017, 2018 and 2021, the South team was Class 1 state champion; in 2022, it was Class 1 champion and overall grand champion; and this year so far it is Class 1 champion and hoping for overall grand champion on Saturday.
In 2016, 2019 and 2020, the team was state runner-up.
Team member Anika Gera, a South junior, has participated in the competition for three years.
Her mindset for Saturday is to "just stay focused and goal oriented. I'm trying not to be distracted or too over-confident," she said. In regionals, "We did extremely well and got 90 of 90, which is the highest in the state. Obviously, that's a very good score but it's not a reason for us to become complacent."
Spelling words at the state competition will be much harder, she said.
Being state champ multiple times "is a really great title to carry around," Gera said. "It's very braggable, but I try not to brag about it."
For senior Christine Liu, this is her fourth year on the spell bowl team.
Multiple state championships are a point of pride, Liu said.
As she and the team prepare for Saturday's competition, "I'm really confident and hopeful and I want to beat our previous records" and miss as few words as possible, she said.
Gera and Liu are team co-captains.
At regionals, the team had the only perfect score in the state.
At state finals Saturday, the overall champion is among all schools, regardless of size. The change began last year as part of the Indiana Association of School Principals competition.
South team practices don't just take place at school. Some sessions take place at Grabowski's home, and others at a local coffee shop or eatery.
It may involve activities and games.
"We have to be as prepared as possible. But also we have fun along the way. No matter what, however it goes, they prepared as well as they could prepare," Grabowski said.
Those activities also help them bond.
"This is a team sport. It's not just one speller," Grabowski said. "You have to have 10 solid spellers. They are relying on each other."
Spell Bowl team members are as follows: Arjun Bhatia; Anthony Chapman; Chris Chow; Emma Evidente; Anika Gera; Jessica Kallubhavi; Kathleen Li; Christine Liu; Jordan Torbert; and Crystal Wang.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue
