Erin Howard, Speller 98 and an Alabama seventh grader, is used to being first on the stage as we get into later rounds. In years past, we've organized spellers alphabetically by state.
This year, it's a little more randomized and Erin's not first any more.
Her order doesn't seem to effect her. In 2016, she tied for 22nd place. Last year, she tied for seventh place.
She just spelled "thylacine" correctly. It's a carnivorous mammal whose range was limited to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea that was doglike in appearance and had a smooth grayish brown pelt conspicuously cross-striped with black on its lower back.
