PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Participants in the Regional Spelling Bee pose with Mary and Joel Abramson and Mayor Judith Kennedy before the event.
By MICHELE DURGIN
LYNN — The wait is over: A winner will be crowned at tonight’s 31st Annual Daily Item Regional Spelling Bee after the March 11 spell-off ended in a tie.
St. John’s Prep eighth-grader Mitchell Robson, the defending champion, faces off against Ashrita Gandhari, a North Andover third-grader, at City Hall’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The contest will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Robson and Gandhari defeated 42 other spellers and battled head-to-head for two hours, spelling more than over 200 words, before judges declared the evening over at 10:30 p.m.
Phil Ouellette, the emcee and Daily Item vice president of sales, said both students deserve to move on to the national finals in Washington D.C., in May.
“They are great spellers,” he said.
Tonight’s competition will begin with a 100-word list, he said. If Robson and Gandhari work their way through that list correctly, another 300 words are ready to go.
Sponsors Joel and Mary Abramson will attend the event and are looking forward to a wonderful evening celebrating two very talented youngsters.
“Both of these spellers deserve to go to the finals in Washington,” said Joel Abramson. “They are bright students who have worked so long to prepare themselves for the bee. They are brilliant young people and it’s exciting that so many people are talking about it like a championship ball game.”
Lena Robson, Mitchell’s mom, said she experienced many emotions over the weekend as she prepares to watch her son compete again.
“I’m excited, nervous and proud,” she said. “This is Mitchell’s fourth year at the regionals. I think I’m more nervous than he is. He loves those words and boy, does he study. My husband, brother, mom and friends will all be there to wish him luck.”
The defending champ said he is prepared for the big night.
“I’m feeling very prepared, but at the same time I know I’m going against such an elite speller and it’s going to be a challenge,” said Mitchell Robson. “I am thankful to my parents, my friends and my teacher Mrs. Zito for their support. Everyone has been great.”
Gandhari, who turned 9 years old last week, said she hopes to beat Robson.
“My friends are all telling me I’m going to win, but I’m still studying the dictionary,” she said. “I’m not very nervous, but I am very excited. I worked so hard to get here and I’m hoping I can win.”