Nashua South High School Bests Profile High School in Granite State Challenge Semifinal Game

QUARTERFINALS

Durham, NH (May 8, 2026) –  Nashua South High School is advancing to the finals of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE after defeating Profile High School in the season’s first semifinal game. Profile played a competitive game throughout but was never able to surmount Nashua South’s commanding early lead, resulting in a 415 to 320 victory by Nashua South.

Leading the Nashua South Purple Panthers was 12th-grader Captain Henry Long. His team included fellow 12th-graders Eric Picanco and Thanasi Miris, and 10th-grader Charlie Long. Jerry Primo, a 12th-grader, and Lexie Ross, a 10th-grader, were team alternates. The Purple Panthers were coached by Social Studies teacher Lex Duval and English teacher Kelli Thornhill-Telerski. Nashua South High School enrolls 1,635 students.

The Profile Patriots were captained by 12th-grader Maddie Perkins and included 12th-graders Moses Rolfe, Wyatt Wright and Raiden Valentine. Team alternates were 9th-graders, Henry Hamilton and Andy Rolfe. Profile was coached by school counselor Jill Brewer and social studies teacher Paul Savard. Profile High School enrolls 130 students from Bethlehem, Easton, Franconia and Sugar Hill.

Beginning in Round One, Nashua South came out to an early lead, despite a concerted effort from Profile. By the semifinals of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE, teams are often quite evenly matched in terms of their knowledge base, meaning it’s often the ability to buzz before the other team that’s the deciding factor in a team’s success.

“We are very fortunate to have a buzzer system that we use for all of our practices,” said Nashua South Coach Kelli Thornill-Telerski.  “We practice that as much as we can, but also I think  it's important to note that these kids practice in their own time too.”

In the three-strikes-and-you ’re-out round, Profile had a chance to mount a comeback after Nashua used up their three strikes early, getting only three out of a potential ten answers correct, but Profile had similar struggles during the round, getting only two of ten questions.

With help from their alternates in round three, both teams bounced back during the rapid-fire 60-second round. Profile got a solid eight out of ten score, which may have tightened the score in another game. On this occasion, however, the Nashua South team surprised even themselves by getting a perfect 10 out of 10. Round 3 ended with a score of 295 to 200.

“I think that's probably the best game we've ever played,” said Nashua South Captain Henry Long. “10 out of 10…I don’t know if we were expecting that, but that was pretty great!”

The Profile Patriots were not about to let the game go without a fight, however. During Round 4, where point values double and wrong answers lose points, Profile did their best to mount a come-from-behind win, but Nashua South managed to keep them from closing the gap, winning the game by 95 points.

“You know, we're a little disappointed,” said Profile Coach Paul Savard. “They fought hard against a team from a school with 1,600 kids, and our school has 130 kids. So, we're pretty proud of what they've accomplished. I'm most proud of how proud they felt.”

Profile Captain Maddie Perkins expanded on her coach's thoughts. “I think we did well just being a team, especially in the 60-second round. That’s where we shine,” she shared. “I think as a group, we’ll just take the memories with us.”

For their part, Nashua South has its eye on the season’s final game, the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE SUPERCHALLENGE.  “This is the farthest this team has been in a long time,” said Thornhill-Telerski. “I'm just excited for them and ready to see what happens.”

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.

Catch the next semifinal game of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE on Thursday, May 14th at 8:30 p.m. on NHPBS, when Bishop Guertin High School takes on Plymouth Regional High School. You can also stream it on the PBS App, the NHPBS YouTube channel, or online at nhpbs.org/gsc.

Test your knowledge with GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE online quizzes, play the latest games and more at the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE web page, or try your hand at daily brain teasers on the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Facebook page.

GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is funded by lead sponsor Unitil, with additional funding from Safety Insurance and NEA New Hampshire.

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  Granite State Challenge
  Sunday, 5/10 at 6:30 P.M. on NHPBS
  
  

• nashua south VS profile
  Granite State Challenge
  Monday, 5/11 at 2:00 P.M. on NHPBS
  
  

• nashua south VS profile
  Granite State Challenge
  Thursday, 5/14 at 3:30 P.M. on EXPLORE
  
  

• bishop guertin VS plymouth regional
  Granite State Challenge
  Thursday, 5/14 at 8:30 P.M. on NHPBS
  
  

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