WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Scripps National Spelling Bee is officially underway.
And Green Country is represented by Will McCollom, a 2nd grader at University School in Tulsa.
He's one of 285 spellers participating, but he has a secret weapon - a lucky coin.
Will told our Scripps News reporter that his dad gave him the coin after he won a spelling bee and he now keeps it in his pocket for good luck.
As for getting ready for the competition, Will has a unique way to practice spelling.
"I allow my audience to throw out words for me to spell, it's really quite fun," Will said.
Spellers telling me how the test went, and what they're doing to prepare! @WKBW #spellingbee @ScrippsBee pic.twitter.com/gfVAdkGjNC
— Hannah Buehler (@HannahBuehler) May 24, 2016
Will won the Green Country Regional Spelling Bee in March at Oral Roberts University's Mabee Center to advance to the national stage.
Will and the other spellers began Tuesday with the Preliminaries Test, with Preliminaries beginning Wednesday morning and the competition continuing through Thursday evening.
Will is speller 198.
Along with Will is fellow Oklahoman, 7th grader Jasmyne Le of Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City.
Follow more of our bee coverage here.
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