Salem Blue Devils Bedevil Milford Spartans

DURHAM, NH — Do you know the pen name of English author Mary Anne Evans? If you answered George Eliot, you would have won 20 points on last week’s Granite State Challenge, which saw Salem High School take on Milford High School. The final score was 580 to 180.

The Salem Blue Devils were represented by captain Tony Consentino, Aidan Gallo, Jonathan Tarness, and Ricky Jeffreys, and alternates Alexis Ahern and Oba Oseghali. They were coached by Bernie Campbell. The Milford Spartans were represented by captain Shelby Houghton, Ian Alton, Olivia Wisbey, and Andrew McNeil, and alternates Charlie Blue Arm and Sean Murphy. They were coached by Dave Alcox.

“I was very pleased with the strong performance the kids had today,” said Salem coach Bernie Campbell.

Salem now advances to the quarterfinals of Granite State Challenge. Hosted by Jim Jeannotte, the popular quiz contest began the season with Granite State Challenge Super Sunday at Manchester Community College. 46 New Hampshire high school teams took a qualifying test to secure one of only 16 spots on Granite State Challenge.

At the conclusion of the season, this year’s Granite State Challenge champion will move on to compete in the first-ever High School Quiz Show Invitational at WGBH in Boston against the winners of Maine Public’sHigh School Quiz Show: Maine.

The winner of that game will face the winner of the semifinal game between Massachusetts and Rhode Island in a battle to decide the High School Quiz Show Invitational champion.

Granite State Challenge is funded by lead sponsor Unitil, with additional funding from NEA New Hampshire, Heinemann Publishing, New Hampshire Lottery, D.F. Richard Energy, HRC, Measured Progress, The NHHEAF Network Organization and Super Sunday partner, Manchester Community College.

New Hampshire PBS inspires one million Granite Staters each month with engaging and trusted local and national programs and services on-air, online, via mobile, in classrooms and in communities. Beyond its award-winning television programs, New Hampshire PBS is a leader in education and community engagement: nhpbs.org.

Image and text submitted by Susan Adams.