PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- More than a million students play the SCRABBLE(R) game in approximately 20,000 schools nationwide. Students from across the country hung on every word to see which team would triumph at the 2007 National School SCRABBLE Championship held this weekend in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
A team from the Ridgefield Library in Ridgefield, Conn. won the 2007 National School SCRABBLE Championship. Aune (pronounced Ow-na) Mitchell, 14 of Ridgefield, Conn. and her teammate Matthew Silver, 13 of Westport, Conn. walked away with $5,000. During the final Championship round, the Connecticut team defeated Joey Krafchick, 12 of Roswell, Ga. and Dorian Hill, 13 of Lithonia, Ga.
This year's competition had a new twist: ESPN will telecast the Championship as kids head back to school in late August/September 2007. SCRABBLE, the world's most popular crossword game, combines the vocabulary skills of crossword puzzles and anagrams, with the additional element of chance. A family favorite since 1948, the board game today is found in one out of every three homes, according to Hasbro, makers of the SCRABBLE game in the United States and Canada.
"Kids everywhere, from all parts of the country, and from all walks of life, love to play SCRABBLE because it's challenging, fun and allows the kids to be creative," says John D. Williams, Jr., executive director, National SCRABBLE Association. "It's not unusual for competitors of this event to have been competing against adults -- and beating them - -in SCRABBLE tournaments across the country."
Word Play: Let the Games Begin
Teams of 5-8 grade students from the Oregon to Florida competed, playing in teams of two in the tournament. The first prize winners received a $5,000 cash prize. The second-place team were awarded $2,000 and third place $1,000.
The two-day event kicked off on Friday, May 4 with registration, and after the first three games were played, the kids and their families enjoyed a pizza party. On Saturday, May 5, it was crunch time as teams began an often rigorous and sometimes grueling competition with three more games to determine which two teams would advance to the Championship round and win the grand prize and title. Among those competing were two Girl Scouts from Arizona, who participated in an AZ tournament as part of a new pilot program. Arizona winners Morgan Sands and Mackenzie Caswell were selected to compete in Providence.
Students from the Philadelphia ASAP Program, an organization providing after-school programs for kids of all ages, also participated for the first time in the Championship ASAP volunteers organize clubs and programs driven by interest and the needs of the community, and playing SCRABBLE has become a favorite after-school activity with over 40 school SCRABBLE Clubs already established.
"This Championship is a great testament to the passion coming from the kids, their coaches and family members. All of the participants have shown amazing levels of creativity, enthusiasm and sportsmanship to help ensure that all of the kids come away as winners," says Jay Bruns, director of marketing for SCRABBLE, Hasbro Games. "It's a great opportunity and lots of fun for all who compete."
The National School SCRABBLE Championship is underwritten by Hasbro. For more information about the SCRABBLE game or other tournaments and clubs around the country, visit http://www.scrabbleassociation.com/.
About Hasbro
Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
Brad Ferris
212-414-7032
917-318-7730
