Belmont High v. Merrimack High

(DURHAM, February 5, 2024) - Belmont High meets defending champ Merrimack High in the first game of the 42nd season of Granite State Challenge on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 7:30 pm on NHPBS. Merrimack High, along with teams from 31 other New Hampshire schools, took a qualifying test, as a team, back in November of 2023 to secure one of 14 spots in Round One. Four additional teams competed in two wildcard games in December of 2023 to secure a spot in Round One. Belmont High defeated Concord High in the Wildcard Round.

Playing for Belmont High are Captain and senior Jonathan Holmes joined by seniors Leanna Rowley, Kayleigh Thompson, and Ryder Dutton. The team is coached by science teacher Kevin Charleston and math teacher Craig Wilkins. Belmont High enrolls around 400 students from Belmont and Canterbury.

Playing for Merrimack High are Captain and senior Kishan Sreenivasan joined by seniors Liam Clark and Trey Grant, and junior Erin Murray. Merrimack is coached by chemistry teacher Dr. Sara Campbell and Gifted and Talented Coordinator Sally Agel. Merrimack enrolls around 1,094 students.

The winner of the game will move on to the quarterfinals where they will meet the winner of game two between The Academy for Science and Design and Manchester Central High airing Thursday, February 15 at 7:30 pm on NHPBS.

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 Insurance, D.F. Richard Energy, and HRCU.

Pressroom Contact

Carla Gordon Russell
Director of Communications
crussell@nhpbs.org
(603) 868-4339