Melodie Loya, Speller 398 and a New York seventh grader, got out on "pignoli," the edible seed of the nut pine : pine nut.
Melodie tied for 18th place last year. Her best friend, Speller 326, Phoebe Smith, is still in the competition.
"Good luck to all my fellow spellers. Thank you," Melodie said as she exited the stage.
