LIBERTY — Not many sixth graders have a least favorite word, but Brent Miller sure does.

“Enervate. E-N-E-R-V-A-T-E,” Brent said.

It’s the word that knocked him out of the regional spelling bee last year, and he hasn’t forgotten it.

This year, the sixth-grade student at Lakeview Middle School will get another shot when he competes in the 93rd annual 21-WFMJ Regional Spelling Bee. The competition, free and open to the public, takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

The event brings together school spelling champions from across Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The final three competitors will be named grand champion, runner-up and third place, with the winner advancing to the 101st annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., over Memorial Day weekend.

For Brent, the regional bee is familiar territory. This will be his third time competing. The 12-year-old is trying to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish. He finished ninth as a fourth grader.

“Words are either really easy or really hard,” he said. Memorable entries include photosynthesis, numismatist, and one 17-letter monster that he learned how to spell, but promptly forgot.

Even with experience, he still gets nervous.

“I am,” Brent said with a laugh. “There could be a surprise where it pops out of nowhere. It’s really hard.”

Preparation in the Miller household is a family effort.

His mother, Shannon Miller, quizzes him using the official word lists.

“I read them off, and then he spells them,” she said. “Some of them I have to look up the pronunciation because I’m like, I’ve never seen this word.”

The pair works their way through printed lists, usually starting with easier words before moving to the tougher ones.

“We normally start at the beginning and then go as far as we can,” Brent said. “We normally can’t get through all of it.”

His mother said she first noticed Brent’s talent when he competed in his early school spelling bees.

“I thought, wow, he’s just a natural,” she said. “But then he’s also willing to work at it and study the words as well.”

The family, who lives in Liberty, tries to keep the process fun.

“We kind of make a game out of it, so it’s been a good experience,” she said.

When he’s not studying vocabulary, Brent keeps busy with a range of hobbies. He swims and plays soccer. He plays piano, enjoys chess and builds Lego sets.

“As long as it’s complex,” he said.

And even though the word “enervate” still lingers in his memory, Brent said part of the fun is never knowing what will come next.

After all, in a spelling bee, the next word could be easy. Or it could be inscrutable.

“I-N-S-C-R-U-T… even I can’t spell it… A-B-L-E,” Brent said.

His younger brother Luke knows that one. That’s the word that knocked him out in his classroom spelling bee.

Also competing for a third time will be Violet Sheen from B.J. Miller Elementary School in Sebring.

Nine contestants are making their second appearance in the regional bee. They are Genevieve Romey, Lincoln PK-8 School, Warren; Elijah Crooks, Western Reserve Middle School; Max Babyak, St. Charles School, Boardman; Isaac Zane Bennett, LaBrae Intermediate School, Leavittsburg; Lena Hamden, Liberty Junior High; Makenna Christlieb, Bristol K-12 School; Ryan Pero, Roosevelt Elementary, McDonald; Ella Mercer, Struthers Middle School; and Noah Bright, Niles Middle School.

Each contestant will receive a 21-WFMJ Spelling Bee T-shirt, courtesy of 21WFMJ, a

school champion certificate and other mementos for their participation in the bee.

Kent State University at Trumbull is awarding a $2,000 scholarship to the grand

champion, as well as $1,000 to the runner-up, and $500 to the third-place student.