For 30 rounds, Colin Aponte, a 13-year-old home-schooled student from Blue Hill, Maine, calmly and confidently spelled every word in the 2018 Maine State Spelling Bee. Colin watched his brother win the same event in 2013. He said he studies spelling lists every night, and he advances to the national finals with "crescendo."
After intense, prolonged competition, Jayden Lee, a fifth-grader from Bella Vista Elementary School in San Ramon, California, won the East Bay Times 2018 Contra Costa County Spelling Bee. This was Jayden's first countywide spelling competition and now he has advanced to the national finals. His winning word was "tracheostomy."
Marcus Giorza, a seventh-grader from Madison School in Phoenix, is the 2018 Arizona Spelling Bee winner. His winning words were "pulque" and "anthophilous." This is the 20th year the event has been sponsored by the Arizona Education Foundation. Marcus will represent all of Arizona in the national finals.
Persistence was key for Hannah Archer, an eighth-grader from Fort Frye Schools in Beverly, Ohio. She won the Marietta Times Regional Spelling Bee on her fourth try at the event. Hannah was runner-up the past two years. She outlasted 63 other spellers when she correctly spelled "spinet" and "blasé."
Joel Greenly, an eighth-grader at Midview Middle School in Grafton, Ohio, said he was confident he would get far in the 35th annual regional spelling bee. Winning the competition, sponsored by the Educational Service Center of Lorain County and The Chronicle-Telegram, was a surprise. The school is celebrating too. Joel is the first "Middie" to advance to the national finals.
Ethan Smith, a seventh-grader from Dunlap Middle School in Peoria, Illinois, was crowned the winner after 11 rounds of competition in the Star Journal Regional Spelling Bee. He enjoyed an introductory taste of what spelling on TV is like since the local WEEK Channel 25 recorded the event. He correctly spelled "rheumatologist" for the win.
Will Robson, an eighth-grader at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts, is carrying on the family tradition of spelling excellence. He won the 33rd Annual Daily Item Regional Spelling Bee just as his brother, Mitchell, did from 2014 to 2016. Will can use the experience he's gained watching the national finals when he gets his turn in the spotlight.
Christopher Serrao is heading to Washington, D.C., for the third time. The first time, he watched his sister compete. The second two he earned a spot in the national finals by winning the Discover Lehigh Valley Regional Spelling Bee in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The 11-year-old Readington Middle School student correctly spelled "kiddush" and "eland" to secure his second regional win.
Evan Bishir, a fifth-grader at Park Elementary School in Fairmount, Indiana, is looking forward to his first visit to Washington, D.C. He is advancing to the national finals after a relatively short competition with 70 fellow students at the Indiana Wesleyan University Spelling Bee. His final two words were "poinsettia" and "charlatan."
Koleton Briecke, an eighth-grader at Minisink Valley Middle School in Middletown, New York, gave his mom/coach a big hug after winning the Orange County regional spelling bee. His winning word was "reconcilable." Koleton said the secret to being a good speller is reading. His entire family plans to make the trip to the national finals.