They call it the Super Bowl of Spelling Bees.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee got underway today in Maryland.
There are eight contestants from Wisconsin who have earned a spot on the national stage.
While there aren't any from Northeast Wisconsin, the whole state will be pulling for the spellers from across the Badger State.
It's a competition that can rattle the nerves of even the best of spellers.
"The first thing that i think about it "oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh it's my turn," one speller said.
"And it's kind of like "woah there" a lot of people here," another said.
A record number of spellers are competing in the spelling bee this year.
The three days of competition will finish with the finals on Thursday.
The top prize is $40,000.
