AP PHOTOS: Top young spellers compete in 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee

Rowena Cresswell-Blickley, 13, of Pottsville, Pa., reacts after spelling her word correctly as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rowena Cresswell-Blickley, 13, of Pottsville, Pa., reacts after spelling her word correctly as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
By  JULIA DEMAREE NIKINSON and JOSE LUIS MAGANA
 
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OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — The best young spellers in the English language are competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Participants stretch as they compete during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Participants stretch as they compete during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Louis Avetis, 12, of Orlando, Fla., spells his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Louis Avetis, 12, of Orlando, Fla., spells his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Vishva Bharath, 13, of La Porte, Ind., stretches during a commercial break in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Vishva Bharath, 13, of La Porte, Ind., stretches during a commercial break in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Natalie Mae Linthicum, 13, of St. Joseph, Mo., gestures as she spells her word during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Natalie Mae Linthicum, 13, of St. Joseph, Mo., gestures as she spells her word during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Minna Day Danziger, 12, of Traverse City, Michigan gestures as she spells her word as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Minna Day Danziger, 12, of Traverse City, Michigan gestures as she spells her word as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Kaden Haddox, 12, of Steubenville, Ohio, reacts after spelling his word correctly as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Kaden Haddox, 12, of Steubenville, Ohio, reacts after spelling his word correctly as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Nathan Settevendemie, 13, of Hartford, Conn., spells his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Nathan Settevendemie, 13, of Hartford, Conn., spells his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Zwe Sunyata Spacetime, 13, of Washington, spells his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Zwe Sunyata Spacetime, 13, of Washington, spells his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Blanche Yang Li, 14, of Boulder, Colo., high fives her friends after correctly spelling her word as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)g

Blanche Yang Li, 14, of Boulder, Colo., high fives her friends after correctly spelling her word as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)g
Aurora Ottilie Spisak, 14, of Dayton, Ohio, front right, stretches during a commercial break in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Aurora Ottilie Spisak, 14, of Dayton, Ohio, front right, stretches during a commercial break in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Aurora Ottilie Spisak, 14, of Dayton, Ohio, sighs in relief while competing in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Aurora Ottilie Spisak, 14, of Dayton, Ohio, sighs in relief while competing in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Joseph Andrew Keffer, 10, of Athens, Ohio, competes in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Joseph Andrew Keffer, 10, of Athens, Ohio, competes in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Aishwarya Kallakuri, 14, of Charlotte, N.C., competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Aishwarya Kallakuri, 14, of Charlotte, N.C., competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Duaa Siyah Ouznali, 13, of San Diego, reacts after correctly spelling her word as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Duaa Siyah Ouznali, 13, of San Diego, reacts after correctly spelling her word as she competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Kunal Patel, 12, of, Rolla, Mo., reacts after correctly spelling his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Kunal Patel, 12, of, Rolla, Mo., reacts after correctly spelling his word as he competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Arya Maruti Bhavansikar, 13, of Frederick, Md., watches other compete during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Arya Maruti Bhavansikar, 13, of Frederick, Md., watches other compete during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Raian Timur, 10, of Greenwood, Ind., yawns while waiting for this turn in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Raian Timur, 10, of Greenwood, Ind., yawns while waiting for this turn in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Kaden Haddox, 12, of Steubenville, Ohio, competes in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Kaden Haddox, 12, of Steubenville, Ohio, competes in the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)