By Richard Bammer

Solano County’s best elementary speller, Gabriella Pasama of Vallejo, will have to wait until next year to contend for the state title.

The Dan Mini Elementary fifth-grader on Saturday morning stumbled on the word “cohorts” in the third round and was eliminated at the California Elementary Spelling Bee in Stockton.

“I was nervous,” said Gabriella during a cellphone interview. “I really didn’t know what words were coming at me.”She expressed disappointment at coming up short, but added, “I knew there’s another chance next year.”

Will she actually return, assuming she wins the Solano County Elementary Spelling Bee first?

via County’s top elementary speller comes up short at state bee.