Five hours of spelling got Nikhil Ganta to Washington, D.C.
The 12-year-old Fort Collins student won the Colorado State Spelling Bee and earned a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Nikhil, a sixth-grader at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, is one of two Colorado students competing in the national competition on Wednesday.
“I’m hoping that, you know, I’ll make Colorado proud at the national,” Nikhil said.
Nikhil said his goal this year is a Top 5 finish, and then a championship over the next three years, until he reaches the competition’s age limit of 15.
He is also passionate about cricket, plays the trumpet and competes in Mathcounts competitions.
When asked what is harder to win, a spelling bee or a cricket game, Nikhil was quick with his answer.
“I think winning a spelling bee for sure,” Nikhil said.
His mother, Hima Maligiredy, said Nikhil showed an early gift for spelling.
“He had an aptitude when he was in first grade, and that’s what even prompted me to get into it, and then it was just his self-motivation,” Maligiredy said. “For me, it was not just the spelling and winning the competitions. It was like the breadth of knowledge he gained from it.”
His father, Ashwin Ganta, said watching the competition is stressful.
“I’m a nervous wreck, my heart rate goes up to 130 when he’s asked the questions,” he said.
Away from the competition, Nikhil’s parents said he is a grounded 12-year-old who loves Roblox and is also a very skilled speller.
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