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Community Corner

Whiz Kid: Tyler McCoy

Swampscott's Tyler McCoy is a whiz when it comes to spelling, soccer, sailing, places and gymnastics, and she's only 9 years old.

 

If you ever find yourself in the Cash Cab with Ben Bailey on the Discovery Channel, you’ll be in good stead with Swampscott’s Tyler McCoy on the ride with you.

The Clarke School fourth grader, who lives on Longwood Drive with her mom, her dad and two sisters, is a champ when it comes to spelling, sports and places.

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Tyler is prepping for her 10th birthday on March 27, and she’s getting ready for a big spelling bee on March 16.  Tyler has competed in local spelling competitions in the past, where she had to master over 400 words, and in regional matches where she had to brush up on over 1,200 words to get ready.

Tyler hopes to win the Bee and then celebrate her birthday with a trip to see the Boston Bruins like she did last year. The B’s host long-time rivals the Philadelphia Flyers the day after the Spelling Bee at TD Garden. It could be an awesome weekend for Tyler.

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Tyler wears number 15 for the youth soccer Grizzlies, she dances with Miss Lisa at All About Dance, she sails with the Swampscott Sailing program through the recreation department, and squeezes in gymnastics camp at the YMCA.

Tyler is also a member of the Junior Girl Scouts, she had a pretty good run selling cookies over the winter according to her mom, and Tyler also competes in math meets when her schedule allows it.

“Spelling well is very exciting for me, I enjoy the competition and the preparation to get ready for a spelling bee,” Tyler said recently from her family’s home.

Tyler was the first ever third grade champion in the Spelling Bee in 2011, and she’s incredibly excited to defend her title in 2012. Tyler is one of six students on the Continental Math League team this year, with meets running from November until the end of March.  Tyler was first runner-up in the fourth grade Geography Bee held in January.

Tyler enjoys math class at Clarke School, she’s a fourth grade leader, that helps plan elementary school events, and she’s taking Spanish enrichment classes after school.

“Soccer is a lot of fun, I play a lot of positions, and I scored the winning goal against Saugus in a game last fall,” Tyler said.

Tyler doesn’t just work on words and phrases from the English language; she prepped with words from 14 different languages to get ready for the spelling bee.

This year’s spelling competition will be held at the Breed Middle School in Lynn, at 6 p.m. on March 16, and is open to the public. Tyler can’t wait to get going.

“Practicing is fun, but I really enjoy when it’s my turn to spell, it’s exciting,” Tyler said. “I work very hard to be prepared when it’s my turn.”

The McCoy family has a few family vacations coming up, to South Carolina in April, and Washington, D. C., later this year, but first, Tyler's getting ready to answer the judges at Breed Junior High on March 16.

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