Nikhil Ganta spelled amaxophobia to win the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Vedanth Raju reacts after misspelling a word during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Jack Shea holds his head in his hands as he listens to another speller during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Reyansh Tandom grips the mic stand as he spells a word during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Aadhya Muthukumar visualizes a word by writing it on her hand during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Sage Murray looks upward as he works on spelling a word during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Jackson Barnes reacts as he attempts to spell a word during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Aditi Ayyappadas spells a word during the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
Nikhil Ganta spells amaxophobia to win the 86th annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
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Nikhil Ganta spelled amaxophobia to win the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. (Photo by Seth McConnell/Special to the Denver Post)
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By Special to The Denver Post | Special to The Denver Post
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Getting your player ready...
Nikhil Ganta spelled amaxophobia to win the 86th Annual Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee at Sturm Hall on the campus of the University of Denver on March 7, 2026, in Denver. Eighteen of Colorado’s top spellers competed for the championship title on Saturday with an all-expenses-paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.
Photos by Seth McConnell, Special to The Denver Post
