BALTIMORE — The 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee starts on Tuesday, May 28 in the Gaylord at the National Harbor. Hundreds of students nationwide are preparing to compete, including 15 Marylanders.
On Thursday, WMAR-2 News talked with seven of those students ready to compete.
Two of the seven made it to nationals last year, 12-year-old Veer Tuliani and 13-year-old Luke Suko. They said they feel a lot more confident this year.
"This year I do have an advantage. For competing last year I know what the experience is like," said Tuliani.
"I've been studying a lot more and I feel like I'm studying the right things. I know what to study," said Suko.
The other five are new to nationals.
Thevy Mak, 14, said she started spelling because of the patterns and roots in words interested her. Teresa Cherian had a similar interest.
"I like finding the etymologies of words and learning them," said Mak.
Henry Turner, 12, said he has a countdown for when the competition is and has been studying at least an hour a day to prepare.
"I haven't done much spelling before this, but I was winning them. I didn't know I was really good at spelling," said Turner.
12-year-old Austin Loar said this is his first year too.
"This year, I don't know what clicked, but I decided to do it. I have a pretty good memory," said Loar.
Yifan Zhang, 14, said he may not have the experience but has done all the necessary prep.
"I consider myself an avid reader and sense of language will help," said Zhang.
