This is the first time Maggy Lambo (Speller 158) has been to the spelling bee -- so it's her first time on stage.
What was it like?
The New York sixth grader -- who correctly spelled "caballero" in Round 2 -- said it was "weird that people were watching." After all, she doesn't even like getting her picture taken.
"At first I was nervous, until I won," she said of her correct spelling. "I got my word right, and I was relaxed."
For Luke Thornburgh (Speller 258), competing for the second time made it easier.
"It's a lot less nerve-wracking this year," the Virginia seventh grader said.
He spelled "pogrom" correctly, to advance to the next round.
Matthew Rogers (Speller 62) said being on stage was "actually really fun." He spelled "ingenue" correctly.
"I was asking questions, talking to the judges," the Illinois seventh grader said. "It felt pretty good."
