2004 National SCRABBLE® Championship Photos: Before the Tournament

Outside the Grand Ballroom, players mill around registration tables and fill out W-9 forms at oyster tables festooned with fresh flowers.

Larry Rand, division 3 leader, has the longest line in front of his table.

The NSA's John D. Williams, Jr. posing with Varney Senii (Brooklyn, NY).

Division 5 leader, Wendell Smith, shares a laugh with Maddalena Palazzo (Richmond Hill ON).

NSC Coordinator Laura Klein and NSC staff members, Theresa Bubb and Patty Hocker (peeking out from behind the foliage).

NSA Director of Communications and part-time butler, Andrew Rubenstein, brings lunch to Division 6 leader Matt Hopkins.

Gavin Hyde (Santa Barbara, CA) steals a few moments at an open oyster table to do some word list studying.

James Kille L. Jr. (Philadelphia, PA) posing with his event bag.

Contestant goodie bags are made of nylon duck and contain a folder (with rules, schedules, and other event handouts), a Travel SCRABBLE^® set, an event pen, and an event T-shirt.

Committee members during the orientation meeting.

Laura Klein, NSC coordinator; John D. Williams, Jr., NSA executive director; and Joe Edley (Coram, NY), go over some committee information in the playing room

Laura Klein and Joe Edley (Coram, NY) show the referee shirts that all floor staff members will wear throughout the championship.

NSA Administrative Assistant and all-around helpful guy, Zack Hample registers some late-arrivers.

Yesenia Serratos, Trey Wright (Los Angeles, CA), John D. Williams, Jr., and Courtney Nelson chat in the hallway outside the reception. Lucky Trey had two dates: Yesenia is his partner and Courtney is his sister.

Linda Bredel (Sierra Vista, AZ) and her reception guest, Nina Fischer, an exchange student from Germany (with excellent English!).

The Felmans: Stephen, Janette, Drew, and Brian. They are here with dad/husband Robert Felman (Venice, FL).

Lining up for one of the many buffets.

From atop a chair (that I had a very hard time securing), a view of the crowd.

Another view of the room.

More views of the room.

Hilda Siegel (Roslindale, MA), Phyllis Vargas (Katy, TX), Jane Tacker (Sealy, TX), Judy Newhouse (Houston, TX) (taking a photo of me), and Andrea Meeden (Houston, TX).

Stefan Rau (Pittsburgh, PA) and Phil Kretschman (North Wales, PA).

Pasta buffet line.

Sunshine Lewis, committee member, and Herb Lewis (Cherry Hill, NJ).

Steven Alexander (Portland, OR), Andrea Carla Michaels (San Francisco, CA), and Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM).

Lynda Cleary (Princeton, NJ) and David Goodman (Albany, NY).

Scott McDougall (Williamsburg, VA) and Mary Hawley.

Ruchi Gupta (Knoxville, TN), Chaunda Robinson (Knoxville, TN), Francis Anum (Raleigh, NC), and Trish Harrop (Knoxville, TN).

Gigi Miller (Sparks, NV) and Greg Heidler (Waialua, HI).

Food Models: Courtney Nelson and Yesenia Serratos.

Carving buffet: Mark Fidler (Waltham, MA), Scott Leifer (Middleboro, MA), Leland Fidler (Waltham, MA), and others.

Pizza buffet.

Zach Drummond-Bednarz and his mom, Dannene Drummond (Athens, GA).

Ben Loiterstein Greenwood (Lexington, MA), Scott Appel (Trenton, NJ), Martin Smith (non-playing expert player visiting us), and Dominic Grillo (Somerset, NJ).

Two happy Seattle club members: Alice Goodwin (Seattle, WA) and her son Daniel Goodwin (Seattle, WA).

A happy SCRABBLE^® family: Janet and Godfrey with their son Nick Amphlett (Cambridge, MA).

Scintillating SCRABBLE^® sirens: Sharon Valorose (Williamsburg, VA) and Gina Fassio (Methuen, MA).

Tobin Lathrop (Seattle, WA), Christina O'Sullivan (Seattle, WA), and Randall Thomas (Calgary AB). The kilt created quite a stir!

Nola Hembrook (Marshfield, WI), Mr. Friedman, Norma Stalions (Palm Harbor, FL), David Mallick (Andover, MA), Max Stewart (Stevens Point, WI), and Janice Konkol (Amherst, WI).

Mary Ellen Bergeron (Florence, MA), Danny Kidd (New Boston, MI), Patricia Krohn (Milwaukee, WI), Lisa Slankard (Arlington Heights, IL), and Roberta Wechter (Westfield, MA).

Gregg Foster (Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA) and Lisa Kessler (Toronto ON).

Robert Felman (Venice, FL) and his family picnic on the floor of the reception (the tables were full!).

Cheryl Cadieux (Bay City, MI) and Paula Catanese (Mountain View, CA) share a laugh over the buffet.

Roseville twins: Harriet Strasberg (Roseville, MN) and Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN).

Larry Sherman (Bronx, NY), Christine Economos (New York, NY), and Maddalena Palazzo (Richmond Hill ON).

Joanne Smith (Tucker, GA), Kathy Gray (Annapolis, MD), and Wilma Pitzer (Englewood, OH).

Adam Logan (United Kingdom) and Daniel Stock (Rocky River, OH).

Diana Grosman (Reisterstown, MD), Justine Zollinger (Memphis, TN), Rea Spidel (Memphis, TN), Doris Roll (Arlington, TN), Dave Krook (Mississauga ON), and Shauna Petrie (Mississauga ON).

Adam Logan (United Kingdom) and his girlfriend Pat Larash.

Nicholas Tam (Calgary AB), Wayne Clifford (Calgary AB), Paul Sidorsky (Calgary AB), and Siri Tillekeratne (Calgary AB).

Arline Silverman (Lake Hiawatha, NJ) and John D. Williams, Jr.

Joey Hunter, Andrea Carla Michaels (San Francisco, CA), anmd Phyllis Vargas (Katy, TX).

Jean McArthur (Austin, TX), Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR), Darrell Day (Richardson, TX), and Geoff Thevenot (Austin, TX).

Scott Kitchen (Bridgewater, NJ), Walter McDaniel, Charmaine Wolfe (North Tonawanda, NY), Claudia Koczka (Williamsville, NY), and Betty McDaniel (Sicklerville, NJ).

Elaine Kunzel (Fountain Hills, AZ), Mark Budovitch (Scottsdale, AZ), and Vera Collard (Tempe, AZ).

Christopher Schneider (Seattle, WA), Rebecca Slivka (Seattle, WA), Geoff Tongue (Tacoma, WA), and Rachel Christensen (Seattle, WA).

Brian Serville (Bahamas) and Ivan Blackman (Bahamas).

Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and Stephanie Steele (Saint Paul, MN).

John James Chew III and John James Chew IV.

Wendy Cappelletto and her SCRABBLE^® handbag.

Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and his lovely new bride, Wendy.

Charlene White (Kearny, NJ), Rose Noel (Springdale, MD), and Lorraine Burton (Baltimore, MD).

Fashion crisis: Zach Drummond-Bednarz and John James Chew IV show up for the reception in the exact same shirt! Papa Jason Bednarz (Athens, GA) and papa John James Chew III pose with the boys.

Elaine Glowniak (Ortonville, MI) and Frank Lee (Cincinnati, OH).

Steve Pellinen (St. Louis Park, MN) sandwiched inbetween two division one beauties: Lisa Odom (St. Louis Park, MN) and Jan Dixon (Newark, DE).

David Stokoe (Windsor ON) and Chuck Abbate (Quispamsis NB).

Chuck Abbate (Quispamsis NB), a veterinarian by trade, shows off an crossword game themed advertisement mailed to him just prior to heading to the NSC.

Isaac Apindi (Richmond, CA), Jesse Wornum (Portland, OR), and Barbara Van Alen (Chandler, AZ).

Ben Withers (Lake Jackson, TX), Kevin Fraley (Madera, CA), Scott Anderson (Boulder, CO). amnd Dominick Mancine (Louisville, CO).

Patti and Ben Withers (Lake Jackson, TX). Ben is wearing his WSC 2003 shirt.

"No you may not have your notebook back. It is now my chew toy." Jamie Chew gets a stanglehold on my notebook as his dad tries to whisk him away.

Rod MacNeil (Londonderry, NH), Cecilia Le (Utica, NY), Mary Hawley, Scott McDougall (Williamsburg, VA), and David Pearl (Long Beach, CA).

Marjorie Bash (Nashua, NH) and Stella Russell (Manchester, NH).

Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY), Aldo Cardia (New York, NY), Debbie Stegman (Kew Gardens, NY), Carla Chase (New York, NY), and Jim Geary (Glendale, AZ).

Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS) and Marty Fialkow (Moorestown, NJ).

Randall Thomas (Calgary AB) and Carol Ravichandran (Northville, MI).

Peter Armstrong (Baltimore, MD) and Diana Grosman (Reisterstown, MD).

Elaine and Rusty Peltz (San Diego, CA).

Rita Norr (Danbury, CT) and Aldo Cardia (New York, NY).

Some Thai players: Pakorn Nemitrmansuk (Thailand), Komol Panyasophonlert (Thailand), Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand), Withee, Suchard, and World SCRABBLE^® Champion Panupol Sujjayakorn (Thailand).

Laraine Pederson, her daughter Kristen Chew (an event annotator), and John James Chew, IV.

Lexington, MA, SCRABBLE^® club friends Joev Dubach (Watertown, MA) amd John Van Pelt (Arlington, MA).

Scott Pianowski (Berkley, MI) amd Kit Morehead (Berkley, MI).

Lisa Kessler (Toronto ON), Martin Smith, Matt Hopkins (division 6 leader), and Chris Oakley.

Larry Neilson (Hollis, NY), Paul Epstein (Ann Arbor, MI), amd Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD).

Julie Robinson (Denham Springs, LA), Inez Kerth (Jefferson, LA), Susan Zimmerman, Betsy Scalzo, Annette McCaffery (Baton Rouge, LA), and Melody Ness (Baton Rouge, LA).

Jane R. Williams, NSA Director of Operations, Hilda Siegel (Roslindale, MA), and Margaret Bee (Houston, TX).

Patricia Barrows (East Orange, NJ) and Walter Sudnikovich (Sayreville, NJ).

Thea McGivney, Ginger White (Shirley, NY), Marie Puma (Shoreham, NY), Roberta Borenstein (Wilton, CT), and Muriel Sparrow-Reedy (Sun City, AZ).

Kenneth Rubin (New York, NY), Daniel Goldman (New York, NY), and Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY).

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON).

Larry Sherman (Bronx, NY) and Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON).

Su Edwards (Cambridge ON) and Frances Bauer (London ON).

Linda Hoggatt (Blanchester, OH) and Jeff Clark (Linden, MI).

Celia Thompson (Carney's Point, NJ), Matt Hopkins, and Chris Abordo (West Paterson, NJ).

Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY), Zach Hample, Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON), Mark Hamilton (Toronto ON), and Rachel Christensen (Seattle, WA).

Mitchell Brook (Philadelphia, PA) and Ronnie Thomas (Bethesda, MD).

David Zimmerman (Baton Rouge, LA) and Vivienne Muhling (Toronto ON).

Melissa Routzahn (Crystal Lake, IL), Greg Edwards (St. Louis, MO), and Geoff Tongue (Tacoma, WA).

Robert Kahn (Plantation, FL) and Darrell Day (Richardson, TX).

Carol Ravichandran (Northville, MI), Sam Kantimathi (El Dorado Hills, CA), and James P. Smith (Port Clinton, OH).

Kiana and Jaden pose with Debbie and Susie. These beauties were guests of Ken Louie (Whittier, CA). Debbie is his cousin and Susie is his wife.

Brian Nelson (Los Angeles, CA) and Ken Louie (Whittier, CA).

Clayton Colwell (Austin, TX) and David Weiss (Albuquerque, NM).

Gene Rawlins (Scarborough ON), Timothy Anglin (Scarborough ON), and Jeffrey Parsons (Logy Bay NL).

Jason Ubeika (Mississauga ON), Gene Tyszka (Mississauga ON), and Grant Rowland (Mississauga ON). Grant refers to them as the three Ukrainians, but Gene admits he is actually Polish.

Eileen Johnson (Freeport, NY), Ember Nelson (Buffalo, NY), and Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA).

Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR), Russell Gonzales, Stan Miranda (Albuquerque, NM), Ed Hartley (partially obscured), and Robin Bowles (Lake Oswego, OR).

Ron Tiekert (Indialantic, FL), Esla Ewida (Jersey City, NJ), and Charlene White (Kearny, NJ).

Annette McCaffery (Baton Rouge, LA), Ann Skylstad (Fort Stockton, TX), Grace Qualls (Lafayette, LA), and Melody Ness (Baton Rouge, LA). Ann and Grace are sisters.

Linda Brandt (Brandon, FL), Joan Knobelsdorf (Palm Harbor, FL), and Janice Fisher (Palm Harbor, FL). These three are happy members of the Tampa Bay Club were Joan is their director.

Lynn Cushman (New York, NY), Gina Fassio (Methuen, MA), L. Cheryl Francis (Old Town, ME), Ann Sanfedele (New York, NY), Susi Tiekert (Indialantic, FL), and Sharon Valorose (Williamsburg, VA).

Jeannie J. Wilson (Livermore, CA) and Paula Catanese (Mountain View, CA).

Maggie McDonnell, Andrew Golding (Verdun QC), and Heather and Jim Nanavati (Burlington ON).

Diane Brown (Toronto ON) demonstrates a lesson learned in etiquette school.

Diane Brown (Toronto ON), JC Green (East Palo Alto, CA), Maddalena Palazzo (Richmond Hill ON), and Carol Ravichandran (Northville, MI).

Great friends: Mike Baron (Corrales, NM), Joe Edley (Coram, NY), Pamina Deutsch (Corrales, NM), and Laura Klein, NSC coordinator.

The last remaining table after the lights have been dimmed and turned up bright: Linda Hoggatt (Blanchester, OH), Jeff Clark (Linden, MI), Elizabeth Queen, Carolyn Easter (Birmingham, MI), and Janet Gray (Clawson, MI).

Kurt Davies (Whispering Pines, NC) and Rachel Christensen (Seattle, WA).

Michael Budovitch, Mark Budovitch (Scottsdale, AZ), and Mike Wolfberg (Concord, MA).

Kathy and Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) pose with one of England's best, Mark Nyman (United Kingdom).

Chris Cree (Dallas, TX), Mark Nyman (United Kingdom), and Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME).

Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) and Jim Hughes (Austin, TX).

Lester Schonbrun (Oakland, CA), Jeffrey Jacobson (Philadelphia, PA), David Engelhardt (Baltimore, MD), and Mitchell Brook (Philadelphia, PA).

Bernard Gotlieb (Cote Saint-Luc QC) and Diane Brown (Toronto ON).

Regaling the crowd with another SCRABBLE^® story, Angelina Scroggins (Minneapolis, MN), in mid-sentence with Susan Hoehn (Saint Paul, MN) and Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN).

Jeff Widergren (Los Gatos, CA) hiding behind a table in the foyer after barely surviving a fiasco with his pairing program.

Playing SCRABBLE^® outside the after-hours playing room, Ben Settle (Edmonton AB) amnd Huguette Settle (Edmonton AB).

After-hours SCRABBLE^®: Paul Sidorsky (Calgary AB) vs. Cheryl Tyler (Lubbock, TX) and Marguerite Pywar (Houston, TX) vs. Margaret Bee (Houston, TX).

Ember Nelson (Buffalo, NY), Eileen Johnson (Freeport, NY), and Randy Greenspan (Buffalo, NY).

Upwords in play: Darin True (Pontiac, IL) vs. Steve Hartsman (Brown Deer, WI).

Intense anagram play: Daniel Goldman (New York, NY), Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY), John O'Laughlin (Madison, WI), Chris Ofstad (Antioch, CA) (watching from a safe distance), Mark Przybyszewski (Depew, NY), Peter Armstrong (Baltimore, MD), and David Mallick (Andover, MA).

The other side of the anagrams game: Mark DiBattista (Astoria, NY), John Babina (Norwalk, CT), Daniel Goldman (New York, NY), and Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY).

Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY) chats up Carol Ravichandran (Northville, MI).

Carl Stocker (Miami, FL) vs. Ann Ferguson (Mountlake Terrace, WA).

Pongsakorn Atichatsrisakul (Thailand) vs. Tony Claitor (Winter Park, FL) with Jason Oppenheim (Seminole, FL) reading Everything SCRABBLE^® at the table.

Korakoch Kiatsommart (Winter Park, FL) vs. Carl Warner (Winter Park, FL).

Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA), Amit Chakrabarti (Hanover, NH), and Robert Gillis (Huntsville, AL) gather around Mike Wolfberg (Concord, MA) as he demonstrates his new SCRABBLE^® study program: WHAT.

An event banner hanging above the escalator between floors 2 and 3 at the Marriott.

Midnight pairing: Jeff Widergren (Los Gatos, CA) event software creator, Howard Turkenkopf, Laura Klein, Flo Turkenkopf, and John James Chew III, the event webmaster. Howard and Flo are sibling codirectors of Computer Operations.