Hard work spells success for Gorlach kids

The Gorlach kids

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

The Gorlach family of Gastonia County, Charlotte, North Carolina has their way with the dictionary so to speak.

Siblings Robert and Marielle Gorlach each won spelling bee honors in Gastonia County with Robert winning last year's Gastonia County Spelling Bee. This year, his sister Marielle won Piedmonth's Spelling Bee and Robert couldn't be happier especially since their sibling, fourth grader Maxine, also qualified for the finals.

Marielle's secret to spelling bee success is to study hard. “None of the words were that challenging," she said. Marielle, the middle child of three in the Gorlach family, said she spends her extra time reading books like Harry Potter “of course” and playing the clarinet. 

Still, the stiff competition she faced from the contestants especially Maxine were enough to make her feel relieved when she hurdled the dozen questions thrown her way en route to her victory.

Robert was unable to compete since turning freshman but he was happy for both his sisters nonetheless. The family's neighbors and friends acknowledge that the Gorlach children are a force to reckon with in spelling bees. 

And why not since the children can count on their father, a psychotherapist by profession, to help them train for the spelling bees. Their mom Thelma recently opened the first Filipino-American store in Gastonia County.