Granite State Challenge Season Opener

Hanover Marauders Butt Heads with Nute Rams

(DURHAM, FEBRUARY 3, 2018) – Do you know the first U.S. president not to be born a British subject? The answer — Martin Van Buren — recently helped Hanover High School secure a lead over Nute High School in the opening game of the 36th season of Granite State Challenge and go on to win the match by a score of 520 to 130.

The Hanover Marauders were represented by captain Hayden Smith, Jack Burnham, Simon Herron, and Sam Beliveau and alternates Liam Szczepiorkowski and Oliver Minshall. They were coached by Gabe Brison-Trezise and Bill Murphy. The Nute Rams were represented by captain Liam Moses, Matt Curlee, Thomas Richards, and Michael Schmitz and alternates Tyler Guptill and Troy Jacobs. They were coached by Rob Qua.

Hanover now advances to the quarterfinals of Granite State Challenge. Hosted by Jim Jeannotte, the popular quiz contest began the season with Granite State Challenge Super Sunday at Manchester Community College. 46 New Hampshire high school teams took a qualifying test to secure one of only 16 spots on Granite State Challenge.

At the conclusion of the season, this year’s Granite State Challenge champion will move on to compete in the first-ever High School Quiz Show Invitational at WGBH in Boston against the winners of Maine Public’s High School Quiz Show: Maine . The winner of that game will face the winner of the semifinal game between Massachusetts and Rhode Island in a battle to decide the High School Quiz Show Invitational champion.

New Hampshire's top high school academic teams demonstrate remarkable teamwork, quick thinking and smarts as they play GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. The game emphasizes quick recall of math, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts facts—along with questions about current events, entertainment, sports, and New Hampshire.

Watch GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Saturdays at 6 PM on New Hampshire PBS, with multiple airdates on NHPBS and NHPBS EXPLORE. You can view the latest games, try your hand at online GSC Quizzes and track the progress of your favorite team at nhpbs.org/gsc.

GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil; additional funding is provided by NEA-New Hampshire, Heinemann Publishing, New Hampshire Lottery, D.F. Richard Energy, HRCU Measured Progress, the NHHEAF Network Organizations, and Super Sunday Sponsor Manchester Community College.