in the regional final of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

But, behind the scenes, it was unassuming sixth-grader

Louis Gilliland

, of Forks Township, who showed he has the makings of a real trouper.

Gilliland, of Easton Area Middle School, made it to the final seven spellers before being knocked out Thursday night at Northampton Community College.

He competed for about two-and-half hours with blood in his mouth, caused by a dislodged tooth that he swallowed just moments before walking on to the Lipkin Theatre stage.

Louis lost the tooth while eating

, the chewy jelly candies given to spellers by bee co-sponsor

, as he stood in line with other contestants as they were about to be introduced.

He never let on during the bee.

Backstage, he briefly stepped out of line and approached a volunteer.

It wasn’t until Louis was eliminated, as he stood in the green room with his parents, Gerry and Eileen, that he filled them in about his missing tooth.

Eileen Gilliland said she knew something was amiss as she sat in the crowd of the tension-packed auditorium.

If the missing tooth was a distraction, Louis didn’t show it. He was one of the night’s best spellers, and like several others in an acutely competitive field, had a real shot at the championship.

Louis is just 10 years old and an excellent student, having skipped a grade in elementary school. He studied 1,100 words or so in preparation for the bee and was all but unflappable -- with or without the tooth.

Eating candy? That’s a different story, at least on this night.

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