Sakiusa Meador, speller 21, pulled the microphone down to be better heard by the judges.
But there's a new mic this year.
"You don't have to move it at all," Dr. Bailly told him.
Sakiusa pulled the mic up, then down again to keep it from blocking his view of Dr. Bailly and the judges.
"I don’t want it right in front of your face," Dr. Bailly said. "You don’t need to adjust it much."
Sakiusa spelled sphacelated correctly,