Nashua South To Take On Profile In Granite State Challenge Semifinal

DURHAM, NH — Nashua High School South will face Profile in the first Granite State Challenge semifinal game at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, on New Hampshire PBS.

Nashua South’s Purple Panthers are captained by 12th-grader Henry Long. The team also includes 12th-graders Eric Picanco and Thanasi Miris, 10th-grader Charlie Long, and alternates Jerry Primo, a 12th-grader, and Lexie Ross, a 10th-grader. The team is coached by Social Studies teacher Lex Duval and English teacher Kelli Thornhill-Telerski.

Nashua South won Granite State Challenge titles in 2016 and 2017.

Profile’s Patriots are led by 12th-grader Maddie Perkins and include seniors Moses Rolfe, Wyatt Wright, and Raiden Valentine. The alternates are 9th-graders Henry Hamilton and Andy Rolfe. The team is coached by school counselor Jill Brewer and Social Studies teacher Paul Savard.

Profile represents a school of 130 students in Grafton County serving Bethlehem, Easton, Franconia, and Sugar Hill.

Long said the semifinal run stands out for Nashua South: “I’m just really excited because we haven’t made it this far in the four years that I’ve been in high school, so this is really exciting for us.”

Thornhill-Telerski described the team’s energy heading into the match.

“We’ve never seen them this excited,” she said. “They’re here because they love trivia, they love playing this game, and they love watching it.”

Nashua South worked on buzzer skills in preparation for the semifinal.

Perkins said the upcoming game carries extra meaning for Profile’s seniors.

“This is either our second-to-last match or our last match of pretty much our entire high school,” she said. “So, whether we win or not, we’re just here to have fun and make some memories.”

Savard reflected on coaching students he has known for years: “In basketball, you can pass the ball to somebody, but here it’s on them. This is a culmination of their education, and they can see it, and that’s kind of rewarding.”

Granite State Challenge is hosted by Jon Cannon, a Bow High School teacher and former coach, contestant, and crew member connected to the show. New Hampshire PBS said the program tests students in math, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts, as well as current events, entertainment, sports, and New Hampshire topics. The semifinal can also be streamed on the PBS App, the NHPBS YouTube channel and at nhpbs.org/gsc.