Gracie Schroeder, speller 92, came to the Bee as a fifth grader. So did Ariel Kokoricha, speller 149.
But neither one have been back until this year -- both as eighth graders.
"They completely redid the whole thing," said Gracie, who is from Kansas.
Being back, she said, is surreal. The other spellers are a kind of a family, and she's been able to form relationships with other spellers.
"You don't really expect to make it back," Gracie said. "You just put in the best effort."
Ariel, who is from New Mexico, said she doesn't remember a lot about her first trip to the Bee. But she said it's exciting to be back.
"Last time I came, I had a lot of fun," she said. "And there's the prestige of being at the National Spelling Bee. It's a cool bragging right."
Ariel, who is from New Mexico, said she doesn't remember a lot about her first trip to the Bee. But she said it's exciting to be back.
"Last time I came, I had a lot of fun," she said. "And there's the prestige of being at the National Spelling Bee. It's a cool bragging right."