Julie Bennett Latuscha Submitted photo

In 2007, Julie Bennett Latuscha spent a half-hour on the hit show “Wheel of Fortune” and managed to win nearly as much money as she was making in a year back then as an Edward Little High School teacher. 

We thought of Latuscha recently after insanely popular game show host Pat Sajak retired from the gig and left the big wheel in the hands of television personality Ryan Seacrest. 

Sajak is gone but Latuscha is still right here in Auburn, teaching at ELHS. She has a family, she’s a bit of a soccer mom and she has quite a lot going on. 

But does she still watch “Wheel of Fortune”? 

We caught up with Latuscha and quizzed her about her experiences on the big show so many years ago. To our relief, she wrote us back with all the letters in her notes intact. No missing vowels, nothing for us to guess. 

Probably a good thing because I doubt anyone at the newspaper is as skilled as Latuscha at these kinds of riddles. 

What was the experience like? By far, being on the “Wheel of Fortune” was the most exciting and nerve-wracking thing I’ve done in my life. I have been watching the “Wheel of Fortune” since I was a kid so when the Wheel Mobile came to the Yarmouth Clam Festival I had to go check it out. I was “happy as a clam” to be selected to go on stage that day to try and solve a puzzle. I thought that was the end of it, but then I received a letter in the mail a couple of weeks later asking me to come to a tryout in Edgecomb. I would have to miss the first day of school, but I had to go! It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I spent the day with about 100 other people solving puzzles and doing little interviews in a mock “Wheel of Fortune” setting. I was happy to make it that far, but a few weeks later I received another letter saying that I had been selected to appear on the “Wheel of Fortune” and that they would be in touch within the next year-and-a-half. It didn’t take long before I received a phone call from the game show asking me if I could get myself to Culver City, California, the next week.

Julie Bennett Latuscha and her family. Submitted photo

I quickly made arrangements to fly to Los Angeles with the hope that I might be chosen. Once there we had to draw straws for who got to play and who sat out as an alternate. Somehow the stars aligned and I drew the “Friday” stick. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have had the opportunity to be a contestant on my favorite game show. The whole experience was so surreal. Once the lights came on and the show began it was like an out-of-body experience. I have never been more nervous in my entire life. I was just willing myself not to mess up and make a fool of myself. Twenty minutes later it was all over. I had just had the most exciting day of my life and wanted to tell everyone about it, but I had to sign paperwork promising not to disclose anything about it until the show aired three weeks later. I was afraid I would lose my winnings so I didn’t tell a soul, not even my parents! We had a viewing party at Mulligans for all of our family and friends to watch the show together when it aired. They were blown away as they watched me solve puzzle after puzzle and make it all the way to the end. I didn’t get the final puzzle, but walked away a cool experience, and some cash and prizes, including a trip to London. I have to say that it’s so much easier to shout out the answers from your living room couch. I will never again laugh at a contestant who chokes under pressure.

How did you get along with Pat Sajak? I got to meet both Pat Sajak and Vanna White before the taping started. They came out back to say hello during makeup. I don’t remember exactly what they said to us but I do remember Vanna being super nice and Pat Sajak trying to crack a few jokes.

Do you still watch the show? I do still watch “Wheel of Fortune” whenever I get the chance. Life has gotten busy with kids and practices so we are not always home at 7:00 to watch it live, but I do tune in as often as I can.

What do you think of Ryan Seacrest? I like Ryan Seacrest. It’s hard to take the place of someone who has been the host for 43 years, but I think he will do a good job. I’m happy to see the show continue.

Now that Sajak is retired, any chance you’ll take his spot as show host? I can’t hold a candle to Pat Sajak, but I would definitely be a contestant again!

When you’re not winning big money on game shows, what’s going on in your life? I am still teaching at ELHS and I am now married with two kids, Lincoln and McKinley, who keep me running to soccer, hockey, baseball and softball. We love to watch game shows and play along at home. There is always a friendly competition. The future goal is for one of us to make it on “Survivor.”