Abhijay Kodali, speller 407, was a fifth grader in his first year of competition last year when he tied for third place at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
This year, the Texan is off to a good start. In the latest round, he spelled "thatching" correctly. It means to roof or cover with or as if with a plant material (such as rushes, reeds, palm leaves or especially straw) arranged in a thick mat.
