Two Mass. spellers advance to national bee quarterfinals

(Scripps National Spelling Bee)

By Globe Staff

Two Massachusetts spellers made it to the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee today.

Mallika Govindan of Lancaster, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Luther Burbank Middle School, and Akshat Shekhar of West Roxbury, a 12-year-old eighth-grader at Roxbury Latin School, advanced, a spelling bee spokesman said.

In the quarterfinals, Govindan incorrectly spelled "pergola," a type of arbor, while Shekhar correctly spelled "regelate," a scientific term for the refreezing of ice, according to results posted on the spelling bee Web site.

About 100 people will participate in the quarterfinals, which are being aired this afternoon on ESPN360.com. Forty to 50 will advance to the semifinals, which begin Friday morning, and about a dozen will compete in the finals Friday night, said Greg Touney, a staff member on the press desk of the bee.

Govindan is being sponsored by the Sentinel & Enterprise of Fitchburg. Shekhar is being sponsored by the Patriot Ledger of Quincy.

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