Manchester Central Meets Merrimack and Bow Meets Portsmouth

Granite State Challenge - Semifinals

(DURHAM, June 10, 2021) – Tune in to NHPBS Saturday, June 12 at 6:00 pm for the Granite State Challenge Semifinals.

Playing in the first game are Manchester Central and the defending champs, Merrimack High. Playing for the Little Green of Manchester Central High are Captain Jonas Weissberg, Kellen Barbee, Akshay Manchanda, and Tyler Cotton. The team is coached by Lorraine Meyette. Manchester Central High is located in Hillsborough County and enrolls around 1,532 students.

Playing for the Tomahawks of Merrimack High are Captain Nick Gacharna, Michael Clark, Aidan Remick, Jack Pikora, and alternates Aris Corman-O'Reilly and Alli Pikora. The team is coached by Sara Campbell and Kyle Harvell. Merrimack High is located in Merrimack, NH in Hillsborough County and enrolls around 1,170 students.

Game two pits Bow High against Portsmouth High. Playing for the Bow Falcons are Captain Justin Murphy, Madeleine Kropp, Colin Bayer, and Rachel Budd. The team is coached by Michelle Hlavaz. Bow High is located in Merrimack County and enrolls around 625 students.

The Clippers of Portsmouth High are represented by Captain Francis Powell, Nick Dahlen, Josie Sedam, Maddoc Johnson, and alternate Karina Havaleshko. The team is coached by Hannah Dul. Portsmouth High is located in Rockingham County. It serves the towns of Portsmouth, Rye, New Castle, Greenland, and Newington and has an enrollment of around 1,087 students.

The winners of the matches will move on to the championship game airing on Saturday, June 19 at 6 pm on NHPBS.

*Granite State Challenge games were pre-recorded in March.

Granite State Challenge features New Hampshire's top high school academic quiz teams as they demonstrate remarkable teamwork, quick thinking, and smarts to beat the clock and buzz in first on this iconic New Hampshire game show. 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.

You can follow your favorite team, test your own knowledge with GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE online quizzes, and more at the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE web page or try your hands at daily brainteasers on the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Facebook page.

GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is funded by lead sponsor Unitil; with additional funding from NEA New Hampshire, Safety Insurance, New Hampshire Lottery, D.F. Richard, Cognia, and HRCU.