It's the third time Liam Nyikos, Speller 426, from Texas, has been to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In his years here, he's developed feelings about the schwa, the unstressed vowel that often trips up spellers. They are not good.
"It's one of the main reasons to miss words," he said while wearing a T-shirt that said, "We love to hate the schwa."
It was designed by his brother, Andy, who made four (for himself, Liam and their parents).
"A lot of people agree with the hate for the schwa," Liam said. "I've definitely met a lot of people and had a lot of conversations based on the shirt."
Liam said he's been trying to help newer spellers get acclimated to the Bee, the way older spellers once helped him, He's in eighth grade now, and this will be his last Bee.
"It's somewhat bittersweet, but I'm still excited," he said, "I'm hoping to go to the end."