Past Champions Merrimack High and Winnisquam Regional High Meet on Granite State Challenge

Durham, NH (March 10, 2025) - The Tomahawks of Merrimack High go head-to-head against the Bears of Winnisquam Regional High on GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. on New Hampshire PBS.

Playing for Merrimack High are team captain and 12th grader Erin Murray, 11th grader Avis Clever and 12th graders Liam MacIsaac and Maeve LaRock. The team alternates are 12th grader Hikari McDowell and 11th graders Bridget Clark and Lauren Murby.  Chemistry teacher Dr. Sara Campbell and physics teacher Liz Dumais coach the Merrimack team.

Merrimack has 1,087 students and has won more championship titles than any other school. They won the trophy in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. However, they lost to Portsmouth High in 2022.

Merrimack coach Dr. Sara Campbell has led this team to all of their championships and is hoping for another win. “We've been working really hard to make sure that we get prepared. It's been a little crazy trying to get them all together in one spot, but when they are, they work really well together as a team,” said coach Campbell. “We practice lightning toss-up rounds, the Three Strikes and You’re Out Round and then on their own, they actually go and watch the show, which I think is really cool.”

Playing for Winnisquam High are team captain and 12th grader Beni Griffin, 12th graders Joe Curtin and Claire Langevin and 11th grader Marcus Morrissette. Team alternates are 11th grader Georgia Shartar-Howe and 10th grader Kevin Dore.

The team is coached by science teacher Jeremy Shambaugh and social studies teacher Stephanie Shepard. Winnisquam enrolls 446 students from Sanbornton, Tilton, and Northfield. Winnisquam has been to the championship game of Granite State Challenge five times and took home the trophy in 1988, 1993, and 2004. 

Winnisquam coach Stephanie Shepard expressed how excited her team was to be at the NHPBS studios. “The kids are ready, we're ready and we're looking forward to the opportunity."

The winner of the game advances to the quarterfinals where they will meet ConVal Regional High in a game airing on Thursday, April 17 at 8:30 p.m. on NHPTV.

Bow High and Profile High meet in the next game of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. on NHPBS. You can also stream Granite State Challenge games on  the PBS App, the NHPBS YouTube channel or online at nhpbs.org/gsc.

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

GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is funded by lead sponsor Unitil with additional funding from Bangor Savings Bank, Safety Insurance, NEA New Hampshire and Aroma Joe’s.

About Host Jon Cannon: GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is hosted by Bow High School teacher Jon Cannon.  Cannon has a long history with GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. You might say he grew up with the game.  He was a member of the Belmont High team when he was in high school, was a member of the NHPBS GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE crew when he was in college at UNH and was the coach of the Bedford High GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE team.

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