West Essex Challenges Parsippany on MSG Varsity Quiz Show

West Essex High School will face Parsippany High School in round two of MSG Varsity’s The Challenge, the cable network has announced.

The quiz show featuring the local high schools will air on Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m., on Cablevision’s Optimum, Channel 14.

West Essex is one of 47 New Jersey schools vying to qualify for the Tri-State Championship Playoffs. The West Essex team includes Jerry Groome, Ben Gersten, Tom Haversang (Captain) and Erik Maher, and alternates Michael Caggiano and Mark Mascera. The academic advisors are C.J. Rauch and Caroline Blanchard.

The Challenge host Jared Cotter, a semi-finalist on American Idol, tests the students’ knowledge in a variety of subjects, from history, current events and science to math, literature and the arts in front of a live studio audience.

The competition includes 192 high schools from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. A new match-up can be seen every Sunday through Friday, at 6:30 p.m., on MSG Varsity.

The regional champion receives $2,500 for their school with the Tri-State Champion winning $10,000 for their school, as well as $500 per team member.