In the first year for the Maryland Sports Spelling Bee, Storrie Kulynych-Irvin, a home-schooled student, outlasted 23 other students from five counties and Annapolis to win. Her championship word was "patel." She said her interest in spelling originated with the fun she had with spelling tests. Now, she's on her way to the national finals. 

Photo credit: Paul W. Gillespie, Capital Gazette