Two Valley Teens in D.C. for Spelling Bee

5/29/2008 Last year, the Coarsegold native came close but was knocked out by the word "zacate."

Visalia native Jared Caballes of Visalia will also be there. It's the eighth grader's first time in the competition.

Both Tia and Jared have to get through an oral and written spelling exam before the quarterfinals.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee quarterfinals begin Thursday, with the semi finals Friday morning and the championship finals will air Friday night right here on ABC30.

Both of our spellers are still in it. They got past round two: Tia Thomas spelled "elucidate" right and Jared got the word "dissipated" right too.