It's the second time Abbey Vanasse, speller 139, has been to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It's the first time she's had a schoolmate there. Dia Bonsu, speller 160, was also at the Bee this year. The pair are in a spelling club together; Dia won the county bee and Abbey came through RSVBee.
"I like it a lot more because I know what to expect," Abbey said.
And it's been good for Dia, too.
"It's kind of nice having someone, instead of just being alone," she said.
Both got excited about spelling after they already had done well in school bees. And, Dia said, she likes that now she can listen to adults talking and understand their vocabulary.
