Sophisticated Sesquipedalians spell way to stylish win

One thought came to mind when I noticed Jim Zuberbuhler’s name on the registration form for the Daily Bee adult spelling bee last Friday.

“With a name like Smucker’s it had better be good,” was the TV commercial that resonated in my brain.

“With a name like Zuber-buhler you had better be a good speller,” I thought. Thing was, I was half right. Jim Z. wasn’t the best speller from team Zuberbuhler Friday night, his lovely wife, Titina, proved to be the worth her weight in sauerbraten.

Team D.A. Davidson took top honors at the fifth-annual Daily Bee Newspapers in Education Adult Spelling Bee after firing through: cynosure, sauerbraten, fumaroles, esker, beleaguer, chrysalis, flense, fusillade, recidivist and philhellenism. And no, I will not use these words in sentence.

Jim and Titina Z. and Charter School principal Alan Millar finished off Century 21, whose spellers were dressed like former presidents, and the Hot Phlasch Spellors, who were dressed, well, I am really not sure.

The Spokesman-Review team wore newspapers and the defending champs, Keokee, came dressed like gallons of milk.

“Don’t cry over spelled milk,” was the team’s motto. Keokee’s chance of repeating was about 2% someone from the audience volunteered.

The Daily Bee team had a Halloween theme.

The Washington Elementary Cougars dressed the part as principal Dr. Maras and three teachers transformed into two-legged cougars — complete with martini glasses and fur coats.

After a few hours of intense spelling, Titina correctly spelled mynheer and wedels to claim the championship.

It was obvious early on that Jim and Alan were there for moral support but looked dapper in their business attire. They called their team the Sophisticated Sesquipedalians — the handsome and witty emcee dubbed them Beauty and the Beasts.

The event was a fundraiser for the Daily Bee’s Newspapers in Education program. NIE provides newspapers for any teacher in the county.

The event raised nearly $2,000 for the program and several team members are already working on the words for next year.

Jim and Alan, on the other hand, will make sure their suits are pressed and that Titina arrives on time so they can defend their title.

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A special thanks to Bee friend Jim Corcoran who paid the Bee’s team back into the competition so the team could continue deep into the night.

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Kudos also LuAnn Fouts who paid $80 to have lunch with the publisher and the other people who bid on the silent auction items.

David Keyes is publisher of the Bonner County Daily Bee.