California Middle School Wins Scrabble Event

Eric Johnston and Thomas Bao, students from Terman Middle School in Palo Alto, California, won the 2004 National School Scrabble Championship yesterday. The team of was the only one to win all six of its matches, with a combined score 734 points better than their opponents.

One of the tournament highlights, according to the color commentary posted on the NSSC web site, took place in the fifth round when two undefeated teams faced off: Johnston and Bao met the team of Katie Devanney and Katie Donley from the Academy of Notre Dame in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

"At table 1, the 'power team' of the Academy of Notre Dame (4-0 +742 going in to this game) fell to Terman Middle (4-0 +440 going into this game), 305-415," according to the commentary.

"The Academy of Notre Dame made a bad challenge when Termin Middle played EYER/RETAINS/DE for 71 points. Notre Dame did all the rack balancing moves they could execute, but the game just wasn't falling their way. For example, they played AD creating KA/ED for 21, leaving DINT? and drew TI. While they were looking for a bingo in those letters, Terman Middle slapped down SIENiTE/EWE for 71 points."

Johnston and Bao won $5,000 for their efforts; the second place team of Miles Ornish and Andre Ornish from Warren-Walker School in La Mesa, California, won $2,000; Devanney and Donley finished third, taking home $1,000.

The San Jose Mercury News wrote an article previewing the event.