Chandler 8th Grader Made it to Spelling Bee Semifinal

Marcus Behling, 13 years old and 8th grader at the Erie campus of Arizona College Prep, won the Arizona spelling bee in March, went on to compete at the National Spelling Bee. He made it through the semi-finals, one of only 21 competitors left. Marcus wasn’t chosen to be one of the 10 to go on to the finals, which is based on a written test.

At the same time as the Bee, Marcus’s brother Mitchell was valedictorian at the Chandler High School graduation ceremony. Mitchell competed in the National Spelling Bee in 2011, as Marcus watched in the audience.

The Arizona Republic gives more on the Behling family’s journey.