Gabby Knapp places in national texting contest

When it comes to texting, Maryville’s Gabby Knapp can fly.

Gabrielle “Gabby” Knapp has placed fifth in the nation and won a $500 gift card in a Speed Text Tournament sponsored by U.S. Cellular. The traveling competition finds the fastest texters in the nation, and Gabby beat out thousands of competitors to take home fifth place.

“It was fun for our associates to meet the thousands of people who participated in the $10,000 Speed Text Tournament across the country,” said Jack Brundige, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Tennessee. “The competition was fierce, and we’re excited for all of the winners whose love for texting has paid off.”

Gabby entered the tournament in Cookeville at a Tennessee Tech University basketball game. Throughout 2010, residents across the country visited U.S. Cellular retail stores, community festivals and other events to enter the Speed Text Tournament, which challenged participants to text random phrases as fast as they could. Michael Zhang from Pasco, Wash., was the grand prize winner and won $10,000.

“Everybody I know texts all the time,” said Knapp. “It’s how we communicate. I’ve definitely gotten pretty fast at texting on my phone, and the Speed Text Tournament was really fun when I played it at the U.S. Cellular booth at a Tennessee Tech basketball game. I had no idea I’d place in the top five in the nation - that’s really amazing.”

Other speedy texters across the U.S. who placed in the top five of the Speed Text Tournament include:

Sheridan Schuessler, Slater, Iowa

Jamie Civitate, Des Moines, Iowa

Michaela Smith, Locust Grove, Okla.

Text messaging has become a preferred way to communicate for people of all ages. According to a recent Nielsen survey, text messaging has officially eclipsed voice calls with Americans sending and receiving more text messages than the number of voice minutes they use each month.