Staples Students Step Up To The Challenge'

WESTPORT, Conn. – A team of students from Westport’s Staples High School will go head-to-head with teams of students from schools across the tri-state area on MSG Varsity’s academic TV quiz show “The Challenge.”

Staples High School students chosen to compete on MSG Varsity's "The Challenge" pose with team academic adviser Jim Goodrich, left, and show host Jared Cotter, center.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

by Vanessa Inzitari

12/05/2012 5:00 a.m.

Team members Jacob Meisel, Mrinal Kumar, Ben Goldschlager and Jordan Shenhar will first compete against a team from St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. Staples team alternates include Michael Menz, Ryan Greenberg and Andrew Bowles.

Show host Jared Cotter, a former "American Idol" semifinalist, will quiz the teams on their knowledge of history, arts and literature, current events, math and science in front of a live studio audience.

Led by academic adviser Jim Goodrich, the Staples team is one of 192 schools in the tri-state area competing in “The Challenge.” The Staples students will compete against 47 other schools during the Regional Rounds as they look to qualify for the Tri-State Championship Playoffs, according to a statement from MSG Varsity.

Schools advance through a series of elimination rounds, with one school in each region being crowned regional champion and winning $2,500 for the school. The winning teams from each region go on to “The Challenge” Championship where they square off in a Tri-State Showdown. The school awarded the title of Tri-State Champion will receive $10,000 in prize money and each student participating in the final “Challenge” Championship game will receive $500.

The Staples/St. Luke showdown will air Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. on Cablevision’s Optimum, Channel 14.

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