 | Chetan ReddyThe Dallas Morning News |
| Round | Correct Spelling | Contestant's Spelling |
| 1 | Preliminaries Test | |
| 2 | hodiernal | hodiernal |
| 3 | braggadocio | braggadocio |
| 4 | Semifinals Test | |
| 4 | phlogistic | phlogistic |
| 5 | soboliferous | sabaliferous |
| Journey to the Scripps National Spelling Bee | |
| Winning word in qualifying local spellingbee: | effendi |
| Other words spelled correctly in local competition: | thalian |
| kalema | |
| quacksalver | |