Julia Denniss brought a pocket full of good luck charms to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Her reaction to her result -- she missed Thursday morning's semifinal round by one point -- revealed that the Dunwoody 12-year-old also packed a good attitude.
Said Julia, "Maybe next year I can do better."
Julia and 10-year-old Rachael Cundey of Martinez, near Augusta, were Georgia's two representatives at the annual bee, held in Washington. Rachael, who just finished fourth grade at South Columbia Elementary School, also didn't advance.
With a four-leaf clover, a rosary ring and other charms in her pocket, Julia scored 27 points in Tuesday's and Wednesday's rounds -- a 50-word written test and two words on stage. The cut was 28 points out of a possible 31, achieved by 41 of the record 293 spellers.
Julia, who just completed sixth grade at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School in Sandy Springs, nailed "crucial" and "glitterati" in Rounds 2 and 3. Rachael, one of the youngest entrants, got "generosity" but stumbled on "caracole," a horse-riding maneuver, in the third round.
Julia would have advanced to the semifinal round had she gotten one more word on the written test.
"I'm kind of disappointed, but I'm kind of glad this is over," said Julia, who had studied about 10 hours a week since qualifying in March.
Thursday morning's competition will be televised at 10 a.m. on ESPN, and the finals will air at 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
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