Super spelling sisters in New Jersey, one going to national spelling bee
NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey -- This is a sibling rivalry taken to the next level.
11-year old Naomi Castellanos and her 10-year-old sister Zadie are both amazing spellers.
Naomi, a 6th grader, won her local spelling in February, qualifying to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
And you know who she beat to nab first place?
Her little sister Zadie, who came in second.
"I was kind of sad that she didn't win, but I still happy that I was," Naomi said.
So, what made Naomi nervous?
"Being there on that stage with all of those people," Naomi said.
The sisters attend Franklin Elementary School in North Bergen.
And 4th grader Zadie, she was nervous for a different reason.
"It was pretty scary," Zadie said. "I knew I was competing against her."
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Let's not forget mom and dad, they were anxious too.
"What is going to happen if my oldest breaks my little one's feelings," said Tammy Castellanos, the girls' mother. "But it didn't happen. They were both very supportive."
"One of them is going to take the trophy home," said Ariel Castellanos, the girls' father. "One of them is going to do it."
Ariel saw it as a win-win.
Here's another win, these sisters, they love this stuff.
They study a minimum three hours a day!
"There are Greek rules and Greek roots at the bottom," Naomi said. "Then here is German. Then we have Italian right here. Then here is French, I'm still not done with that one."
Did you follow that?
Not sure if we should be wishing Naomi luck next week in National Harbor, Maryland, or telling her competitors that there's always next year.
Speaking of next year, don't be surprised if Zadie turns her silver into gold in 2018.
"In the future, I'll need this knowledge. So why not know it now?" Zadie said.
