Bow High takes on Hopkinton High on the Next Game of Granite State Challenge

Durham, NH (March 16, 2026) —The Bow High Falcons meet the Hawks of Hopkinton High in game six of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE on Thursday, March 19th at 8:30 p.m. on New Hampshire PBS.

Captained by 12th-grader Matthew Kropp, the Bow Falcons’ starting lineup features 11th-grader Matthew Mampuzha along with two 9th-graders, Ollie White and Max Lewis. The team’s alternates are 9th-grader Anna Mampuzha and 11th-grader Jayden Kropiewnicki. Coached by Michelle Hlavaz, the Falcons represent a school of 650 students in Merrimack County serving the communities of Bow and Dunbarton. Bow High School advanced to the final game in 2021, where they fell to Merrimack High.

Heading into the game, Bow team captain Matthew Kropp said his team’s knowledge is well balanced. “I think we’ve got a pretty broad range of skill sets,” said Matthew.

Speaking about his own strengths Matthew added, “I’m very strong all around. My coach always says I pull the answers out of nowhere. Mythology is a wild card of mine, along with general knowledge and pop culture.”

With early morning practices and buzzer work, Bow coach Michelle Hlavaz is upbeat about her team. “As a group they have most of the categories covered,” said Hlavaz. “They work well as a team and they’re just a great group of kids.”

The Hopkinton Hawks are led by captain 11th-grader Lucy Beardmore and feature 12th-graders Tad Stokes and Fin Murphy, along with 11th-grader William Shepard. Serving as team alternates are 12th-graders Rebecca LeWine and Julia Martel. Coached by Social Studies teacher Liam Callahan. Hopkinton High School enrolls 271 students. The team advanced to the semifinal round in 2024, where they fell to Plymouth Regional High.

A big Jeopardy! fan, Hopkinton team captain Lucy Beardmore is feeling confident about her team. “I think we feel like we have nothing to lose,” said Lucy. “We are like a fresh team and we’ve been practicing a ton, so I think we’re ready.”

Practicing once or twice a week with their own buzzer system, Hopkinton coach Liam Callahan thinks his team is ready. “We have one student who has watched pretty much every old game that is available online and will answer questions correctly because he remembered that question from a game four years ago,” said Callahan. “We also have a couple of students who are really quick with the buzzer and hopefully they can rack up some decent points.”

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 game of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE premiering on Thursday, March 19th at 8:30 p.m. on NHPBS. You can also steam it 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 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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