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Associated Press
National Harbor, Md.

Photos: Tension, drama, excitement -- it's the spelling bee!

William Cooper of Redding, Calif., wait his turn.
William Cooper of Redding, California, yawns as he waits for his turn to spell.
Alex Wong | Getty Images

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Minnesota's Maxwell Meyer was one of the last 45 standing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee until he was tripped up by the word "dulia."

The 284 kids competing in this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee got their first opportunity to approach the microphone on Wednesday — and to hear the dreaded bell that signals an incorrect spelling.

At the end of Wednesday's onstage rounds, the field was cut to 45 spellers for Thursday's finals.

Here are some images of the nation's top spellers:

Gallery
25 of 25
Will McCollom of Tulsa, Oklahoma, celebrates.
Will McCollom of Tulsa, Oklahoma, celebrates after he correctly spelled his word in round two.
Alex Wong | Getty Images
1 of 25
William Cooper of Redding, Calif., wait his turn.
William Cooper of Redding, California, yawns as he waits for his turn to spell.
Alex Wong | Getty Images
2 of 25
Will McCollom, 8, waits to walk to the microphone.
Will McCollom, 8, of Tulsa, Okla., waits to walk to the microphone to spell his word during the preliminary round three.
Cliff Owen | AP