COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Three of central Ohio’s top spellers are hoping to become the next winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Lipika Narisetti, 13, of Hilliard Heritage Middle School, Nilla Hunter Rajan, 11, of Bishop Flaget Catholic School and Gabriel Ennin, 12, of Toll Gate Middle School will all be competiting in the preliminary rounds of the national competition today. Here’s a little bit of info about each of our local competitors:
Lipika Narisetti
Lipika is in 8th grade, and this isn’t the first time she’s competed on the national stage. In 2015, she tied for 22nd place.
In addition to her love for spelling, she’s also plays violin and is on her school’s track team. She says he dream job is to one day become a neurosurgeon.
Nilla Hunter Rajan
Nilla is a 5th grader who loves Greek mythology. One of her favorite books after all is the Percy Jackson series. She also is a participant of the Chillicothe Civic Theatre.
Nilla says she loves all three of her pets and says her favorite song is Shakira’s “Try Everything,” which is featured in her favorite movie, “Zootopia.”
Gabriel K. Ennin
Gabriel is a 6th grader in Pickerington and a two time spelling bee champion at his school. He says he loves reading and also enjoys playing basketball, soccer and video games.
He has a younger sister and brother whom he says look up to him as a role model.
Ohio leads nation with 19 spellers
The three local students are part of a huge contingent from Ohio. In all, there are 19 kids from Ohio traveling to this year’s competition, the most of any state in the US.
Dozens of former spellers will be scattered throughout the live audience when the preliminary rounds of the bee begin Wednesday. Others take on official roles in the competition.
The most famous ex-spellers are Jacques Bailly, the pronouncer and public face of the bee; and Paige Kimble, the bee’s executive director. They won in back-to-back years: Bailly in 1980, Kimble in 1981.
Some former spellers say they remain involved with the bee because it had such a profound influence over their lives. Many of the spellers pour their heart and soul into the bee – some for as many as five or six years. But once they reach 9th grade or turn 16, it’s over, and it can leave a void.
“It’s certainly very abrupt. There’s also a feeling of relief, but that’s rather transitory,” said Rob Palmisano, a student at Duke who’ll be part of this year’s college crew. “You’re in this period of deep reflection. Did I study enough? Did I get the most out of this that I wanted to get out of it?”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.What others are clicking on:
