Final 2 Minnesotans exit National Spelling Bee - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The last two Minnesota students have been ousted from the National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C.

Seventh-grader Antony Joseph of Fairmont Junior High and eighth-grader Roshini Asirvatham (roh-SHEE'-nee ah-sir-VAH'-tham) of Friedell Middle School in Rochester made the nationally televised semifinals. But both were eliminated on their first words.

Joseph misspelled "tendenz," meaning a literary work's dominating point of view. Asirvatham was tripped up on "sciophyte," a plant that thrives at low light intensity.

The Star Tribune reports the two were making repeat appearances at the bee.

On Wednesday, three Minnesotans fell short of the semifinal round: seventh-graders Emma Greenlee of Mesabi East High School in Aurora, and Elise Stahl, a home-schooled student from Greenfield; and eighth-grader Matthew Majerle of Forestview Middle School in Baxter.