LISBON — Beaver Local seventh grader Maureen Bone described the Scripps National Spelling Bee as amazing, at times just chaos, and for a short time scary, but an overall great experience.

“I’m having a good time,” she said during a phone interview Thursday.

The 12-year-old Columbiana County 2025 Spelling Champion missed her word “spodumene” by one letter, putting an “i” instead of the first “e” during the preliminaries on Tuesday.

That ended her time on the national stage in Washington, D.C., but freed her up for more fellowship and fun with fellow spellers and relaxation time with her parents, Steven Bone and Heather Moser, who accompanied her.

This was the 100th year for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, so she became a part of bee history just by participating and representing Columbiana County. She also said she’ll try again since she has one more year that she can take part.

“I figured out how everything works. I think I’ve learned the ropes,” she said.

Maureen also said she learned that she really doesn’t like being up there in front of such a large crowd in the audience, but as her mom said, she got up there and she did it.

“I was so jittery on stage,” Maureen said.

As number 172, she had to wait most of the day until the afternoon before she took the stage that first day on Tuesday, her first time at the national bee. The bee featured 243 spellers from across the country, with the champion crowned Thursday night during the finals, which were aired live on Ion.

“Everyone here is extremely nice,” Maureen said.

On Monday, the family attended the Memorial Day picnic at Nationals Park where the Washington Nationals play ball, feasting on all kinds of picnic food. On Tuesday night, she said she wanted to play a game called Bananagrams so she posted an invite for fellow spellers to meet in the cafe at the hotel and they played one round.

On Wednesday, she and her mom and dad traveled to Alexandria and spent some time at the pool for a day of relaxation before going to watch the semifinals of the bee.

Maureen said she was part of a “gigantic group chat,” saying it was just chaos, with spellers from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, West Virginia and even the Mahoning County speller who’s from Canfield. She’s collected a lot of phone numbers to keep in touch.

The family planned to attend the finals and then on Friday go to the big party always held to end bee week.

Her advice for future Columbiana County champion spellers was this: “Just being here is an experience. You’re going to meet so many amazing people. Even if you miss your word in the first round, you’re still going to meet amazing people and have an amazing experience.”

Maureen’s mom, Heather, who’s a teacher at Beaver Local, said “this is such an awesome experience. I’m loving getting to watch her hang out.”

Heather said they’ve met some really great families and people and said she’s so grateful for what the three Columbiana County newspapers have done for Maureen. The Morning Journal, Salem News and The Review sponsor the county bee, along with the county Educational Service Center, and cover the costs of the trip to Washington, D.C. for the speller and one parent.

“I’m so appreciative of what the papers have done,” she said.

When Maureen was on stage, Heather tried to follow along and spell the words and said she got one of seven right before it was Maureen’s turn. Heather didn’t know how to spell that word, either.

Other spellers also missed their words and they all talked together and played games and she said that was a healthy way to get over the disappointment. She said Maureen is making some great connections with other spellers.

On Thursday, the family went on an Old Town Trolley tour and there was an event for spellers only to have posters signed by past champions since this was the 100th anniversary.

“I’m so proud of her. Steve and I are both incredibly proud of her,” Heather said.

To learn more about the national bee, visit spellingbee.com.

mgreier@mojonews.com