Returning champion Michael Leonardo, an eighth-grader from Cooperstown Central School, will try to earn a second trip to Washington D.C. to represent the region in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

He’ll face stiff competition however from the rest of the field, including two other area spelling bee champs: Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School eighth-grader Nicholas Daou and Milford Central School sixth-grader Delaney Barry.

Although he won last year after confidently spelling his way to victory through seven rounds, Leonardo isn’t taking anything for granted this year.

"I think it was like, abnormally easy last year," he said. "I hope to just not freak out and do well. I’m looking forward to it."

Leonardo said he has been using some advanced studying materials from Hexco Academic, which the past seven champions of the national bee have used.

His advice to fellow competitors is to "study, study, study," which he’s hoping to do more of after wrapping up a project for the CCS History Day.

Leonardo will face a tough opponent in Daou, who returns to the regional bee after a one-year absence. Daou said he finished in 7th place two years ago, when he was a sixth-grader.

CV-S did not send a competitor to the bee last year, because they didn’t hold a bee in time to make the deadline, Daou said.

Daou said the CV-S bee was held during a study hall a few weeks ago, and only four kids were in it.

He won after correctly spelling the word "pilferage" after his final opponent misspelled his word.

He said he’s been studying for the bee at about the same level as he would study for a mid-term and has been having some friends quiz him on word spellings.

He said his strategy for the bee is to picture words he doesn’t know immediately and try to get them correct.

"What happens, happens. I’m really happy to be there," he said.

Barry will likely be one of the younger competitors at the bee, as sixth-graders don’t frequently make it. She won the MCS bee Jan. 30 after six rounds. She competed against seven of her fellow sixth-graders.

En route to her first place finish, Barry correctly spelled caboose, buckwheat, denture, mongoose, mammoth, sultan and embargo.

In January, Barry said she’d likely study with friends before Saturday’s competition.

The bee will be emceed by organizer Daniel Swift, former editor of the Cooperstown Crier and Daily Star.

The bee is co-sponsored by ONC BOCES, Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES, SUNY College at Oneonta and The Daily Star.

"The Daily Star remains committed to the Spelling Bee and are happy to partner with the schools to hold it in our community," said Daily Star and Cooperstown Crier president and publisher Al Getler. "After watching the movie "Akeelah and the Bee," I am personally looking forward to the big day."

The winner of the bee receives an all-expenses paid trip for two to attend and participate in the Scripps National Bee in May, which is televised on ESPN.

They also receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond donated in memory of Samuel Louis Sugarman, an Amazon.com gift certificate, a subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online and a copy of the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary.

All participants receive a certificate and medal from the sponsoring organizations in recognition of their accomplishment in making it to the regional bee.

Swift said four people will serve as judge/pronouncers for the event: Dr. Kathryn DeZur, assistant professor of English at SUNY Delhi, professor of English Julia P. Hayes of Hartwick College, Dr. Patrick Meanor, professor of English at SUNY College at Oneonta and Dr. Eileen Morgan-Zayachek, professor of English at SUNY College at Oneonta.

The event is open to the public.