Manalapan High School Advances to Round 3 of "The Challenge"

The team from is moving on to the third round of competition on The Challenge, MSG Varsity’s award-winning TV quiz show, making them even closer to the Tri-State Championship.  The show quizzes students on history, math, science, arts and literature, and current events before a live audience. 

MSG Varsity plays new episodes of The Challenge every evening from Sunday through Friday at 5:30 p.m. The competition begins with 184 schools from the tri-state area. Each high school team competes through elimination rounds. The team winner of their particular region is awarded $2,500 for their school. Each regional winner competes in the finals of the Championship. The team winner of the Tri-State Championship is awarded $10,000; each student participating in the final Championship game receives $500 in prize money. 

Team Captain Nathaniel May leads team members Brent Bovenzi, Allyn Budka, Mojin Chen, and Caren Fitzgerald. Jessy Friedman and Victoria Mckeon are the team’s academic advisors. 

“The heat is on for these kids, but they can handle it. When you make it to Round 3, you’ve demonstrated that your team is prepared and can perform under pressure,” show host Jared Cotter said in a press release. “ These students are at the top of their game. As we move on to Round 3, the atmosphere on the set becomes electric.”

Manalapan High School will be battling against Old Bridge High School. The match will premiere on Thursday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. on MSG Varsity, Cablevision iO TV, Channel 14. 

“We applaud each of these students who have done such an amazing job to progress to this level of the game,” said Theresa Chillianis, MSG Varsity’s General Manager, in a press release.“Round 3 promises some fierce competition and exciting viewing for our TV audience. We wish Manalapan High School and Old Bridge High School good luck as they vie for a spot in Round 4.”