Profile High School Bests ConVal in Granite State Challenge Quarterfinal Game

Durham, NH (April 17, 2026) —Which rapper, known for his hit “99 Problems,” teamed up with Beyoncé on her 2003 single “Crazy In Love?” This was the final round question that Profile High School used to pull ahead in a previously neck-and-neck game against ConVal High School during the Granite State Challenge Quarterfinals. Profile ultimately ousted their rivals with a commanding 520-270 final score.

The Profile Patriots were led by captain Maddie Perkins, a 12th-grader. The team also included 12th-graders Moses Rolfe, Wyatt Wright and Raiden Valentine. The alternates were 11th-grader Leah MacElhiney and 12th-grader Marcus Hamilton. The Profile team was coached by school counselor Jill Brewer and Social Studies teacher Paul Savard. Profile High is located in Bethlehem and enrolls 130 students from Bethlehem, Easton, Franconia and Sugar Hill.

Captain Ben Michaud, a 12th-grader, led the ConVal Cougars. Rounding out the team was 9th-graders Ben Ferrisi and 11th-graders Vincent Hollenbeck and Iris Palmer. Team alternates were 10th-grader Colin Maybury and 11th-grader Marcus Jordan. The Cougars were coached by Social Studies teachers Eric Bowman and Chris Heider. Located in Hillsborough County, ConVal High enrolls 630 students from Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Hancock, Peterborough, Sharon and Temple.

The quarterfinal game began with two teams so evenly matched that the first round ended in a tie, 90 to 90. Profile went on to stumble in the Three Strikes and You’re Out Round, getting only two answers correct, compared to ConVal’s six correct answers. Both teams performed well in the 60-Second Round, with Profile getting nine out of ten answers correct and ConVal getting eight out of ten correct answers.

As the final round began, ConVal held a narrow 30-point lead. For a few questions, the game looked to be falling into the same pattern as the first round, with toss-up questions volleying between teams. By the round's fourth question, however, the Patriots began dominating the buzzer system.

“You're always nervous going into these kinds of things,” admitted Profile captain Maddie Perkins. “But towards the end, when I realized that we had gone above them—I think it was when I realized they had to buzz in five times in order to catch up—I was like, ‘we got this!’ I was just cheesing for the rest of the game.” (Cheesing” is slang for smiling!)

Profile was able to lock ConVal out by buzzing in first on every answered question for the rest of the game.

“Hopefully next year we’ll be quick on the buzzer,” said ConVal captain Ben Michaud. “That's what gets you. The name of the game is the buzzer.”

ConVal coach Eric Bowman was simultaneously proud of his team and impressed by their rivals. “Profile was outstanding that last round. They just caught fire. It takes a really good team to beat our team, and they were a really good team.”

Profile coach Jill Brewer’s strategy for the team’s semi-final round was more of what’s gotten them this far in the season. “We'll have some practice sessions this week and just try to keep having fun,” she said. “That seems to be when we do the best, when we relax, and the players are able to have fun.”

The rapper known for the song “99 Problems” is Jay-Z, who partnered with his future wife Beyoncé on 2003’s “Crazy In Love.”

The next quarterfinal game of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE will air Thursday, April 23, at 8:30 PM as Bow High School squares off against Plymouth Regional High School.

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 on Thursday, April 23^rd at 8:30 p.m. on NHPBS. 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, 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 Uniti l, with additional funding from Safety Insurance and NEA New Hampshire.

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