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2016 National Spelling Bee ends in tie

Posted at 2:58 AM, May 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-27 02:58:40-04

(CNN) — It was the third straight year of double winners at the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Nihar Janga, 11, of Austin, Texas, and Jairam Hathwar, 13, of Corning, New York, were declared co-champions at the National Spelling Bee on Thursday.

“It was just insane, I don’t even know how to put it in words,” Jairam said.

“I’m just speechless. I can’t say anything. I’m only in fifth grade,” Nihar said.

Nihar correctly spelled the word “gesellschaft” and Jairam correctly spelled the word “Feldenkrais.”

It’s all in the family for Jairam. His brother Sriram won the 2014 spelling championship.

And what does the future hold for the two master spellers?

Nihar says he wants to be a neurosurgeon curing brain disorders, according to his spelling bee profile. Jairam also wants to be a doctor, hoping to attend Harvard University.