PINKERTON ACADEMY TOPS MASCOMA VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH IN GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE

(DURHAM, March 11, 2013) – In an end-of-game upset, Pinkerton Academy beat Mascoma Valley Regional High School by a score of 175 - 135 in last night's round one match of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. Mascoma had an early lead, but then Pinkerton tied the match in the 60-second answer round and secured its victory with the final 10-point toss-up questions.The teams shared some common experiences and interests. Both Emily of Mascoma and Colin of Pinkerton have visited the Great Wall of China, and they lent expertise with geography questions. The teams also included a tenor sax player and a ukelele player, but the music came in the bonus round with an impromptu duet of Pinkerton's Colin Dudgeon and host Jim Jeannotte singing "O Canada."The Pinkerton Astros were represented by captain Colin Dudgeon, Dylan Mahalingam, Ben Foley, and Hannah Campeanu, and led by coaches Peter Crowell and Pam Griswold. The Mascoma Valley Panthers were comprised of captain Emily Langley, Gareth Solbeck, Kiah Laramie, Nick Colaiacomo, and were coached by Mike Carr and Mary Wenig. Watch the match online here.Pinkerton Academy will now advance to the second round of GSC; this match and all GSC matches are available online to watch anytime.The popular quiz contest began the season with 16 Granite State high school teams battling toward the coveted SuperChallenge title and brainy bragging rights. Look for exciting new angles to the games this season, including a Granite State vs. Bay State Governors' Cup grand finale match in May.It takes a winning combination of knowledge, teamwork, grace under pressure, and a quick buzzer reflex to play Granite State Challenge. The show brings New Hampshire's top high school academic teams head-to-head in lively competition. The game emphasizes quick recall of factual material in all major disciplines - math, science, social studies, language and fine arts - along with a mix of questions about current events, entertainment, sports, and regional topics. Host Jim Jeannotte poses the Challenge questions to the teams; Lori Warriner interviews team members.Each of the four team members and the alternates of the winning Granite State SuperChallenge team will receive a $1,000 award from the NHHEAF Network/ I Am College Bound.org program. The winning school also receives $1,000 and a trophy, and the runner-up school receives $500.Watch Granite State Challenge Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on NHPTV PRIME, and at other times on NHPTV PRIME and NHPTV EXPLORE; watch online anytime.Granite State Challenge is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil Corporation, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England. Additional funding is provided by the NHHEAF Network Organizations, DF Richard, Markem-Imaje, Pax World Funds, Heinemann and Measured Progress.

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