Sophia Nguyen, Speller 219 and a Missouri seventh grader, spelled "cetacean" incorrectly and is out. It's any of an order of aquatic mostly marine mammals including the whales, dolphins, porpoises and related forms.
Sophia said she was “terrified” to be on a national stage, talking to pronouncer Dr. Bailly.
“You don't know what it's like until you're actually here,” she said. “Any calm that I had abandoned me.”
Sophia said she imagined the stage would be bigger, and she was surprised by how friendly everyone was to each other.
“I got so, so lucky,” she said of getting to the finals. “Spelling is 25 percent studying and 75 percent is the dictionary going to be nice to you?”
After finishing in second place in earlier bees, Sophia said she was motivated to study more
“I think of it as trying to narrow this huge expanse called the Merriam-Webster Dictionary,” she said. “I definitely just study hard. Really, all you can do is study.”
Sophia also practices calligraphy and plays tennis, violin and piano. She also likes to spend time with her two sisters, read, write and swim.
“Spelling is all about those moments when you finally succeed,” Sophia said. “I'm the first person from my region ever to be in the finals. It's really great to know that people back home are keeping up with me.
“I still can't believe it. I keep thinking, how did I get here? Where am I?”
Sophia said she hopes her success inspires others.
“It's really accessible to everyone,” she said. “I hope this proves it.”