The word “shortcut” isn’t in Tabitha E. Wells’ playbook.

Practice, practice and even more practice is the key to spelling bee victories, the eight grader from Vandalia’s Morton Middle School said.

“Know everything all the time,” Wells said with a slight giggle. “There is no easy way to do it.”

In the lead up to spelling bees, Wells practices word during lunch and at least an hour each evening.

“You have to read over the words a couple of times and write them out,” she said. “You have to study the roots and rules for each language.”

Wells will try to defend her regional spelling bee title when she squares up against 17 other students from Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery and Preble counties during the 62 annual Dayton Daily News Regional Spelling Bee.

This writer will emcee the contest beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday in Sinclair Community College’s Frederick C. Smith Auditorium, building 12.

The winner will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee to be held in Washington, D.C. May 26 to June 1.

Wells knows the thrill of competing in the big show.

She competed in the national bee last year after winning the 2012 DDN spelling bee.

“The national spelling bee was amazing, just the excitement,” she said. “It is really, really exciting and nerve-wracking to be up there in front of all of those people.”

She recalled the lavish hotel she stay in during the contest. Her classmates watched her on TV.

Wells made it to the bee’s third round before being tripped up during a written test.

She said the hard work is worth it and fun.

“I just really enjoy looking up words and being about to use them in everyday speech,” she said. “I find words very interesting.”

Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth