Nashua High School South is set to take on Plymouth Regional High School in the finals of the Granite State Challenge on May 21. Courtesy photo/Mark Bolton

DURHAM – The stakes are high as the Purple Panthers of Nashua High School South face off against the Plymouth Regional High School Bobcats in the championship game of the Granite State Challenge on May 21.

The Purple Panthers are captained by senior Henry Long and include fellow seniors Eric Picanco and Thanasi Miris, along with sophomore Charles Long. Rounding out the team are alternates senior Jerry Primo and sophomore Lexie Ross. The team is coached by Social Studies teacher Lex Duval and English teacher Kelli Thornhill-Telerski.

With multiple practices a week, Nashua South’s hard work has paid off to make it to the final game.

“We’re an older team with a bunch of seniors, so it’s really exciting that we get to go this far in our senior year and go out with a bang,” said Long.

Knowing that they’re up against a good team, the Nashua South coaches reflected on their team’s chances.

“We have good competition,” said Thornhill-Telerski. “I’m feeling confident in the abilities of our students and I think that they’ll give them a good show.”

“We’re really proud of them,” said Duval. “We’re proud of how they act as a team and how individually they’ve grown and continue to make each other better.”

The Plymouth Bobcats are captained by junior Abraham Hankens alongside fellow juniors Yuriy Paul, Ezra Amsden and freshman Olivia Brayfield. Supporting the team are alternates, sophomore Leif Eisenbarth and freshmen Cam Cawley and Aurora Ricker. The Bobcats are coached by Jay Fogarty, a Drafting teacher, and Troy Harris, a World Languages teacher.

Hankens is focused on how his team can improve from its semifinal game, which was a narrow victory over Bishop Guertin High School.

“Nashua South is really strong,” he said. “All of their players have good depth, so they’ll do well. So, we have to as well.”

Fogarty felt confident in his team’s ability to take the title.

“We’ve got a great team to play against,” said Fogarty. “It’s just really exciting to make it this far and then know that you have one more match. They’ve been playing exactly the way I coach them to play, so we’re not changing anything. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”