Clash of the Titans - Merrimack High Defeats Plymouth Regional High

Granite State Challenge Championship Game

(DURHAM, May 17, 2024) - Merrimack High defeated Plymouth Regional High for the second year in a row in the Granite State Challenge championship game.  n the Granite State Challenge championship game. This was a record-breaking game. Both teams had three titles going into the game. Merrimack High School won the GSC championship in 2020, 2021, and 2023. Plymouth Regional High was the Granite State Challenge champion in 1996, 2013, and 2019. This was also the seventh time in the final game for each of the teams.

Playing for Merrimack High was captain and senior Kishan Sreenivasan joined by seniors Liam Clark and Trey Grant, and junior Erin Murray. The team alternates were junior Shelby Pennington and sophomore Avis Clever. Merrimack was coached by chemistry teacher Dr. Sara Campbell and Gifted and Talented Coordinator Sally Agel. Merrimack enrolls around 1,094 students. Merrimack High defeated Belmont High, the Academy for Science and Design, and Trinity High on their way to the championship game. 

Playing for Plymouth Regional High were the team captain and junior Reagan Sutherland, and seniors Khalil Dakhlia, Paul Mason, and senior Ethan Savage.  The team alternates were juniors, Norman Sackett and Max Shamansky. The coaches for the team were programming, drafting, and engineering teacher Jay Fogarty and Spanish teacher Troy Harris. Plymouth Regional High enrolls around 647 students from Plymouth, Ashland, Holderness, Campton, Rumney, Wentworth, Ellsworth, Waterville Valley, and Thornton. Plymouth Regional High defeated Newfound Regional High, Nashua High South, and Hopkinton High on their way to the championship game. 

ROUND ONE

Kishan Sreenivasan of Merrimack led the scoring with correct answers to questions about the Beatles from GSC Superfan, James. He also scored on questions about the League of Women Voters, Ironman, Thomas Jefferson, Katy Perry, and actor and inventor, Hedy Lamarr. His teammate Trey Grant picked up points on questions about the unit of measure used to determine the height of horses, the area of a triangle with a height of 5 inches and a base of 9 inches, the pancreas, and the ancient city of Alexandria. Liam Clark picked up points on the civics question from 2024 NH Kid Governor, Ellie Livley, about who serves as governor in New Hampshire if the governor is indisposed, and a question about what the open-doored light utility vehicles used during World War II Erin Murray picked up another 10 points for the team on a question about the Carthaginian general who tried to invade Italy through the alps using elephants.

On the Plymouth side, Reagan Sutherland picked up points on a question about the movie, Singing in the Rain. Khalil Dakhlia answered questions about where you will find aglets, the Red Cross, and the Greek playwright Aristophanes, and Paul Mason correctly identified Mitch McConnell as the Kentucky politician who became Senate Minority Leader in 2021.

THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT ROUND
In the Three Strikes and You're Out Round, each team picks a 10-question category and each team member, starting with the captain, gets one question. The team continues to answer questions until they miss three questions. Each team also has three passes in each round. If a team answers all 10 questions correctly, they pick up an additional 10 points. 

Liam Clark picked up 30 points in the round, Erin Murray picked up 20 points, and Trey Grant and Kishan Sreenivasan each picked up 10 points, adding another 70 points to Merrimack's score. The team missed on questions about the Sesame Street muppet, Grover; the location of the Diamond Head volcanic cone; and Elton John.

On the Plymouth side, Khalil Dakhlia, Paul Mason, and Ethn  Savage each answered two questions correctly, and  Reagan Sutherland answered one question correctly. The team picked up 70 points, missing only on questions about Curious George's companion, the man in the yellow hat; NH author and illustrator Tomi DePaola, and Benjamin Franklin. 

60-SECOND ROUND
In the 60-Second Round, alternates join their teams. Each team picks a ten-question category and has 60 seconds to answer the questions. If they answer all ten correctly, teams get a 10-point bonus. Team members can confer in the round, but the captain answers.

Plymouth chose the category "Wonders of the World."  All of the answers in the category included or were related to the word Wonder. They answered nine questions correctly, missing only a question about the TV sitcom, The Wonder Years. 

Merrimack picked the category "Brown Bag."  All of the answers in the category included the word brown. The team answered eight questions correctly, missing only on a question about the wildflower, the brown-eyed Susan. The round ended with Merrimack in the lead by a score of 280-220.

FINAL ROUND
In the game's final round, each correct answer is worth 20 points, but teams lose 20 points with an incorrect answer, and a lead can be easily lost or gained in the round.

The final round was rough on Plymouth, Merrimack picked up 260 points in the round on questions on everything from Tom Hanks, Bollywood and the Beach Boys to leatherback turtles and sloths. Plymouth was not able to keep up. They added 40 points to their score and the game ended with a win for Merrimack by a score of 540-260. This is the second consecutive championship for the team from Merrimack and the fourth win since 2020. They won in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. They lost in 2022 to Portsmouth High.

Hosted by Bow High School teacher and former Granite State Challenge coach (Bedford High), contestant (Belmont High), and Granite State Challenge crew member, Jon Cannon, Granite State Challenge features some of New Hampshire's brightest high school students 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 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 InsuranceD.F. Richard Energy, and HRCU.

Major funding provided by Unitil

Additional funding is provided by NEA New HampshireSafety InsuranceD.F. Richard Energy, and  HRCU.


Watch Online

SuperChallenge: Merrimack Vs Plymouth

Plymouth Regional High and Merrimack High meet for the third time in the final.

Watch More Clash of the Titans - Merrimack High Defeats Plymouth Regional High

Latest Updates


GSC Fun Facts:

  • Granite State Challenge premiered on January 30, 1984
  • 21 NH high schools have taken home the GSC Championship Trophy
  • Londonderry High School took the first championship title.
  • Merrimack High School took the 2023 title.
  • Over 6,500 students have participated in GSC.
  • Over 135, 000 questions have been asked on GSC.

More Video

Semi Finals: Plymouth VS Hopkinton

Semi Finals: Plymouth VS Hopkinton

Plymouth and Hopkinton High meet in the second Granite State Challenge Semifinal game.

Semi Finals: Merrimack VS Trinity

Semi Finals: Merrimack VS Trinity

Merrimack High meets Trinity High in the first Semifinal game.

QF: Hopkinton Vs Laconia

QF: Hopkinton Vs Laconia

Hopkinton High and 1990 and 1995 champion Laconia High battle it out in the final Quarterfinal game.

QF: Souhegan Vs Trinity

QF: Souhegan Vs Trinity

Souhegan High meets Trinity High the second game of the quarterfinals.


QF: Plymouth Vs Nashua South

QF: Plymouth Vs Nashua South

Plymouth Regional High meets Nashua High South in the third game of the quarterfinals.

QF: Merrimack Vs Academy Science & Design

QF: Merrimack Vs Academy Science & Design

It's the first game of the quarterfinals!

Inter-Lakes Vs Laconia

Inter-Lakes Vs Laconia

The final Round One game pairs up Belknap County neighbors, Inter-Lakes High and Laconia.

Hopkinton Vs Salem

Hopkinton Vs Salem

Hopkinton High and Salem High battle it out in game seven of the first round.

Conval Vs Nashua South

Conval Vs Nashua South

ConVal High and Nashua High South meet up in game six of the first round.

Newfound Vs Plymouth

Newfound Vs Plymouth

Newfound Regional High and Plymouth Regional High go head-to-head in game five of the firs

Academy Science & Design Vs Manchester Central

Academy Science & Design Vs Manchester Central

ASD takes on Manchester Central.

Oyster River Vs Trinity

Oyster River Vs Trinity

Oyster River High takes on Trinity High in the fourth Round One game.

Souhegan Vs Dover

Souhegan Vs Dover

Dover High faces off against Souhegan High in the third Round One game.

Belmont Vs Merrimack

Belmont Vs Merrimack

Belmont High will face 2023 champion, Merrimack High.

Granite State Challenge Season 42

Granite State Challenge Season 42

New Hampshire's brightest high school kids square off in a high-stakes quiz showdown.

Wildcard Game 1 - Belmont vs. Concord

Wildcard Game 1 - Belmont vs. Concord

Belmont High meets Concord High in the first wildcard qualifying game.

Wildcard Game 2 - Lin-Wood vs. Newfound

Wildcard Game 2 - Lin-Wood vs. Newfound

Lin-Wood High faces Newfound Regional High in the second wildcard qualifying game.

SuperChallenge: Merrimack V. Plymouth

SuperChallenge: Merrimack V. Plymouth

Bobcats vs. Tomahawks in this final matchup of the season.

Plymouth V. Trinity

Plymouth V. Trinity

Plymouth Regional High School takes on Trinity High School.

Hopkinton V. Merrimack

Hopkinton V. Merrimack

The semifinal round opens with Hopkinton taking on Merrimack.

Oyster River V. Trinity

Oyster River V. Trinity

Oyster River takes on Trinity in this quarter final match.

Bow V. Plymouth

Bow V. Plymouth

Bow High School takes on Plymouth Regional High School.

St. Thomas Aquinas V. Hopkinton

St. Thomas Aquinas V. Hopkinton

Hopkinton and St. Thomas Aquinas face off in a fast-paced round two competition.

Merrimack V. Souhegan

Merrimack V. Souhegan

Merrimack High School takes on Souhegan High school.

Dover High V. Trinity High

Dover High V. Trinity High

Dover High School takes on Trinity High School in the final match up of round one.

Oyster River High V. Winnacunnet High

Oyster River High V. Winnacunnet High

Oyster River High School takes on Winnacunnet High School.

Bow High V. Mascoma Valley Regional High

Bow High V. Mascoma Valley Regional High

Mascoma Valley Regional High School takes on Bow High School in this round one match.

Plymouth Regional High V. Salem High

Plymouth Regional High V. Salem High

Plymouth Regional High meets Salem High in this round one match.

Hopkinton High V. Portsmouth High

Hopkinton High V. Portsmouth High

Hopkinton High meets defending champion Portsmouth High.

Fall Mountain Regional High V. St. Thomas Aquinas

Fall Mountain Regional High V. St. Thomas Aquinas

Fall Mountain Regional High meets St. Thomas Aquinas High in game three.

Nashua High South V. Souhegan High

Nashua High South V. Souhegan High

Nashua High School South takes on Souhegan High School in this first round match.

Merrimack High V. John Stark Regional High

Merrimack High V. John Stark Regional High

John Stark Regional High meets Merrimack High in the first game of the 41st season.

Wildcard Game 1 - John Stark vs. Newfound

Wildcard Game 1 - John Stark vs. Newfound

John Stark takes on Newfound in this Wildcard Preseason matchup.

Wildcard Game 2 - Profile vs. Salem

Wildcard Game 2 - Profile vs. Salem

Profile takes on Salem in this Wildcard Preseason matchup.

Londonderry Vs Portsmouth

Londonderry Vs Portsmouth

Londonderry High School takes on Portsmouth High School.

Nashua South Vs Merrimack

Nashua South Vs Merrimack

Merrimack High School takes on Nashua High School South.

Londonderry Vs Manchester Central

Londonderry Vs Manchester Central

Londonderry takes on Manchester Central in this quarterfinal matchup.

Conval Vs Portsmouth

Conval Vs Portsmouth

ConVal High School takes on Portsmouth High School in this quarterfinal matchup.

Merrimack Vs Plymouth

Merrimack Vs Plymouth

Merrimack High School takes on Plymouth Regional High School in this quarterfinal matchup.

Nashua South Vs Fall Mountain

Nashua South Vs Fall Mountain

The first match in the quarterfinals in the 40th season of Granite State Challenge.

Londonderry Vs Winnacunnet

Londonderry Vs Winnacunnet

The eighth game of the season and final game in the first round.

Manchester Central Vs Salem

Manchester Central Vs Salem

The seventh game of the season pits Manchester Central High against Salem High.

Conval Vs Hopkinton

Conval Vs Hopkinton

The Conval Cougars take on the Hopkinton Hawks!

Mascoma Vs Portsmouth

Mascoma Vs Portsmouth

Mascoma takes on Portsmouth.

Fall Mountain Vs Littleton

Fall Mountain Vs Littleton

The Crusaders of Littleton High take on the Fall Mountain Wildcats.

Bow High Vs Nashua South

Bow High Vs Nashua South

The Purple Panthers of Nashua High South take on the Falcons of Bow High.

Academy For Science & Design Vs Plymouth

Academy For Science & Design Vs Plymouth

The Academy for Science and Design take on Plymouth Regional High School.



Visit video.nhpbs.org to see even more local and national video.