NSSC 2007 Commentary: Round 1

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Final Round 1, Award Ceremony.

Round 1

I walk by table 3 and watch Ridgefield Library Team 1 (CT) put down LYRICAL for 79 versus Clark (MA). The game is in progress so I don't linger.

At table 1, Eastern Greene Elementary (IN) is playing Bridgewater SCRABBLE^® Club Team (NJ). Their game is being annotated. Worth mentioning, William Ezekowitz is the younger brother of John Ezekowitz, a former NSSC champion. On their board, I see TRIENNIA, SHAWMED*, and CUTSIEST.

At table 13, I see two players with JUNK and QAT on their rack!

At table 48, Solomon Schechter Day Team 1 (MA) defeated Western Hills Middle (RI), 282-238. My eye catches BLIMEY and the winning team grins and admits it was theirs.

Poor Hampton Bays Elementary (NY), NUOONIN is their endgame rack.

A monster game is going on between Walter C. Young Middle Team 2 (FL) and Fowler School (MA). I see GOURMENTS for 76, PRESIDE for 74, and TASTInG for 78, on thier board.

We are blessed this year to have an NSA member helping us with the color commentary this year. Annette Bailey, or Dr. Bailey to her students, helped get team photos taken today and is now combing the aisles looking for nice plays and color commentary. Some of the highlights mentioned will be hers.

At table 41, Magnolia Jr. High (TX) was playing R.L. Stone Middle (AL) and the first bingo of the round was played at their board: REUNION. Later WIPERS went down and then TOILETS, which was extended to SWIPERS.

TOILETS was a popular play this round! It went down on table 7, too, in a game between Sonoran Science Academy (AZ) and Emerson Team 1 (CA).

At table 17, Evangelical Christian Team 1 (TN) played a bingo bongo (two consecutive bingos!) with a 5-tile overlap against Emerson Team 2 (CA). Two turns later, they got down BASINET!

Stefan Fatsis, the Wall Street Journal journalist and author of the beloved Word Freak, is here, working for ESPN. He'll be covering the finals and looking for top plays to include in his coverage of the event.

Paperwork was a bit chaotic in coming in at the end of round 1, but all the worker bees and students seem to be hip to the system now that round 2 is about to begin.

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