Sometimes, pronouncer Dr. Jacques Bailly's job is to ease the tension on stage.
He's told two spellers to take breaths so far today.
"Howdy again. Good to see you," he told Isabel Cholbi (Speller 18).
And an exchange between the head pronouncer and Zander Patent (Speller 59) brought smiles to the room.
"Morning Dr. Bailly -- er, afternoon, Dr. Bailly," the Illinois sixth grader said.
"Well, it's morning somewhere," Dr. Bailly replied.