John Stark Regional HS Wins NHPTV's Granite State SuperChallenge Title

- 25th Anniversary of High School Quiz Contest -

(DURHAM, May 30, 2008) - The stakes were high for both teams. John Stark Regional High School and Winnacunnet Regional High School had reached the SuperChallenge twice before, but victory had eluded them both. Last night, after seven rounds of difficult questions posed by host Jim Jeannotte, John Stark defeated rival Winnacunnet by a score of 480 to 300 in the season finale match of Granite State Challenge on New Hampshire Public Television. The weekly match on Granite State Challenge tests the wits of these students. While the competition is fierce, it's also fun. "The season flew by," observed John Stark senior Mariah Brennan Clegg. "The SuperChallenge win was amazing. This was a great opportunity and something we'll remember long after graduation." "We're very proud of the class and grace under pressure that the team demonstrated," commented John Stark coach Dan Marcus. "We congratulate the Winnacunnet team for a wonderful season." The triumphant John Stark team was comprised of seniors Mariah Brennan Clegg, Jon Richardson, Joseph Plunkett and Ben Mueser, and alternates Richard Berthiaume and Emily Peterson. They were coached by Jill Pinard and Dan Marcus. Winnacunnet principal Randy Zito said, "The kids had an exciting year and a lot of fun. They surprised themselves with the right answers against some huge teams. It was a great experience for them." The Winnacunnet team included seniors Jessica Noone and Gabbie Burns, juniors Casey Bradshaw and Craig Hartenstein, and alternates Pat Sullivan and Laurel Weatherby. They were coached by Kevin Fleming and Andy Gushee. Granite State Challenge returns in September for its 26th season. Tune in and follow your favorite teams' progress. The popular quiz contest begins with 32 Granite State high school teams battling toward the coveted SuperChallenge title. There are four single-elimination rounds leading to the final contest in May. If you missed a match and want to see how your favorite team fared, watch Granite State Challenge online at www.nhptv.org/gsc and on YouTube, or download it from the Granite State Challenge website or iTunes Music Store as a video podcast. Granite State Challenge brings New Hampshire's top high school academic teams head-to-head in spirited competition. The contest emphasizes quick recall of factual material in all major disciplines - math, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts - along with a smattering of pop culture trivia and New Hampshire topics. Long-time host Jim Jeannotte asks the Challenge questions to the teams; co-host Tim Estiloz interviews team members prior to the game. Major funding for Granite State Challenge is provided by the New Hampshire Lottery. Additional funding is provided by Public Service of New Hampshire, the Community College System of New Hampshire, Irving Oil, and the NHHEAF Network Organizations.

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