Here's the story.

After collapsing in Round 6, Colorado Springs eighth-grader Akshay Buddiga pulled himself off the floor and earned second place in the 77th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday.

As Akshay prepared to spell “alopecoid,” his eyes grew wide behind his glasses, and he toppled over on stage.

Before anyone could get to him, Akshay got up, gave his head a slight shake and spelled the word he was unfamiliar with.

Correctly.

Good for him. His older brother was the 2002 National Spelling Bee champ. Their middle school is about a mile from my home. By all accounts, they're really good kids.