‘Fun words’ and nerves blend for Texan’s 2nd spelling bee

WASHINGTON, May 29 - Katherine Kappelmann has been down this road before. The nerves, lights and anxiety are all too familiar to Katherine as she begins to compete a second time in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

"I am excited and nervous at the same time," she said Tuesday. Katherine, who is home-schooled, won the 19^th annual Standard-Times Spelling bee in March. Now, advancing to the finals, Katherine hopes to make it further this time.

Two years ago, she was eliminated after the second round, which all spellers compete in.