Jacob Williamson (Speller 38) has been trying to get to the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the past three years.
"I'm so excited because I'm doing so well," he said. "Even better than I thought I would do."
He was thrilled to receive "harlequinade" -- he said "Yesss!" upon hearing the word and bounced up and down when he spelled it correctly in the round.
"I'm feeling pretty confident," Jacob said after the computer semifinals test. "I think if I get my two words, I'm going to the championship."
