Scripps National Spelling Bee
Nihar Saireddy Janga, left, of Austin, Texas, and Jairam Jagadeesh Hathwar, of Corning, N.Y., hoist the trophy after being declared co-champions at the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
(Michael Reynolds / EPA)Chicago Tribune
The championship round of the 89th Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland on May 26, 2016.
Nihar Janga of Austin reacts after correctly spelling “berceuse” at the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016. Janga was later declared co-champion.
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Jairam Hathwar reacts after correctly spelling “amanitin” during the final of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016. Jairam was later declared co-champion.
(Michael Reynolds / EPA)
The 2016 Scripps National Spelling Been co-champions celebrate with family members after the final words were correctly spelled in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
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Jairam Hathwar is greeted by a family member after the finals of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
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Jairam Hathwar, left, and Nihar Janga pat each other on the back as they hear that they will likely be announced as co-champions after a drawn-out battle at the 2016 National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
(Jacquelyn Martin / AP)
The final spellers who made it into the evening televised final round gather around on stage after the completion of the morning of competition of the 2016 National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016. From left are, Sreeniketh A. Vogoti, 13, of Florida; Rutvik M. Gandhasri, 12, of California; Sylvie Lamontagne, 13, of Colorado; Snehaa Ganesh Kumar, 16, of Calif.; Mitchell A. Robson, 14, of Massachusetts; Nihar Saireddy Janga, 11, of Texas; Smrithi Upadhyayula, 13, of Texas; Jairam Jagadeesh Hathwar, 13, of New York.
(Jacquelyn Martin / AP)
Kyra Holland of Warrenton, Virginia, participates in the finals of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee May 26, 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland.
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Shruthika Padhy, 10, of Cherry Hill, N.J., is high-fived by the remaining spellers after incorrectly spelling her word during a morning round of the finals of the 2016 National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, May 26, 2016.
(Jacquelyn Martin / AP)
Mitchell Robson, of Danvers, Massachusetts, reacts after correctly spelling the word ‘formatore’ during the finals of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Maryland on May 26, 2016.
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Cooper Komatsu, 13, celebrates as he spells his word correctly during the finals of the 2016 National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
(Jacquelyn Martin / AP)
Sylvie Lamontagne, 13, of Lakewood, Colo., waits for her turn to spell during the final round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
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Snehaa Ganesh Kumar, 13, of Folsom, Calif., reacts to correctly spelling her word during the final round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md., on May 26, 2016.
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Lipika Narisetti, 13, of Hilliard, Ohio, wears bee earrings as she spells her first word correctly during the morning round of the finals of the 2016 National Spelling Bee, in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, May 26, 2016.
(Jacquelyn Martin / AP)