3 Ohio students make National Spelling Bee semifinals

June 2, 2011 at 9:05a.m.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AP) — Three Ohio students are among the 41 contestants who have advanced to the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

All three are spelling bee veterans. Seventh-grader Nicholas Rushlow from Pickerington in central Ohio tied for 17th in 2009 and finished 33rd in last year’s competition.

Seventh-grader Sunny Levine from Medina in northeast Ohio and eighth-grader Tony Incorvati of the Canton area also are vying for the more than $40,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded to the winner.

The semifinals are scheduled to begin this morning. The finals of the 84th edition of the bee will be tonight, broadcast in prime time for the sixth consecutive year.