All proceeds from the Greater Middlesex Conference Basketball Coaches Association’s 25th annual Senior All-Star doubleheader will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
The girls and boys all-star games, featuring the league’s top high school upperclassmen, will be contested Tuesday at Woodbridge High School, which is donating its facilities and whose staff has volunteered to host the event with the approval of the Woodbridge Township Board of Education.
The girls game tips off at 6 p.m. The boys game commences at 7:30 p.m. Free commemorative Marisa Tufaro Foundation wristbands and an open letter of thanks from the tax-exempt nonprofit to the community will be distributed at the gate. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens.
Members of the GMCBCA and officials working the game are also volunteering their time and expertise.
Leisure Sporting Goods, located on 685 Route 27 in the Iselin section of Woodbridge, donated the game shirts for all of the all-star participants.
Complete rosters for both all-star games can be found at the conclusion of this article.
Joe DaRold, official videographer of the MyCentralJersey.com Snapple Bowl, will provide video highlights of game action from the doubleheader. A link to those highlights can be found on Joe’s official Vimeo video page within hours of the conclusion of the second game.
This is the second consecutive year that the GMCBCA has adopted The Marisa Tufaro Foundation as the all-star doubleheader’s beneficiary.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which assists children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area and also makes community service an integral part of its mission, was established last summer in loving memory of its namesake.
Born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries, Marisa, despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, lived a vibrant life that inspired.
After her sixth surgery, Marisa developed two life-threatening conditions that necessitated a heart transplant. The transplant was supposed to extend Marisa’s life, but tragically cut it short when a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of Stage IV cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments failed to thwart the relentless onslaught of the aggressive disease, which riddled Marisa’s brain and body. Marisa succumbed to her illness following a valiant battle on January 30, 2017. She was just 13 years old. Marisa would have been a freshman at Edison High School this year.
Through the generosity of those who have made private donations or participated in fundraising events, our 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, established less than eight months ago, has already made a profound impact on pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The foundation has (please feel free to click on any of the interactive links below for an in-depth look at each initiative):
Provided physical therapy at Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Center and Project Walk for Middlesex County children whose families either do not have health insurance or whose families’ health insurer does not cover the cost of the physical therapy.
Provided meals and goods for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Jersey.
Assisted families whose children are in medical crisis, providing financial support through the payment of medical and/or personal expenses to help lessen the burden of parents who have lost wages while spending time at the hospital. Our foundation does not divulge the names of such families, nor do we disclose the amount of assistance provided.
Conducted a coat drive for Middlesex County children.
Provided gift cards for pediatric patients and their families.
Provided scholarships for Middlesex County students.
GMC BOYS ALL-STARS
HOME TEAM ROSTER
Joshua Cabezudo, Perth Amboy
Kristian Chapmann, Colonia
Mattias Arrindell, Piscataway
Isaiah Daniels-Porter, Carteret
Chernoh Barrie, North Brunswick
Rohan Sabharwal, South Brunswick
RJ Fischer, South River
Daniel Peacock, Piscataway Tech
R.J. Jobin, East Brunswick Tech
Nymir Belk, New Brunswick
Connor Bevilacqua, Colonia
Alex Santiago, Bishop Ahr
Thomas Carter, South Amboy
Jalil Palms, South Plainfield
Joe Sampson, East Brunswick
Tyrese Conover, J.P. Stevens
Coaches: Mugsy White (Carteret) and Chris Garcia (J.P. Stevens)
VISITING TEAM ROSTER
Curtis Nesbit, Woodbridge
Dan Young, St. Joseph
Kemari Persol, Woodbridge
Abdul Nieskins, Spotswood
Zac Kaczmarek, Sayreville
Jake Robel, Middlesex
Abu Kai Kai, Edison
Sashank Sindhia, Monroe
Connor Murcier, Highland Park
Shalon Wallace, Wardlaw-Hartridge
Nick Zaleck, Old Bridge
Pierce Kokosinski, Timothy Christian
Naz Martin, Dunellen
Rohan Chakke, J.F. Kennedy
Coaches: Jim Macomber (Old Bridge) and Mike Thompson (St. Joseph)
GMC GIRLS ALL-STARS
HOME TEAM ROSTER
Syleen Reyes, South Plainfield
Alexis Banko, Colonia
Brooke Timinski , Woodbridge
Khayla Flemmings, North Brunswick
Sonia Guiste, South River
Sera Guiste, South River
Elyssa Jackson, Bishop Ahr
Erin Malin, Spotswood
Rory Josell, Metuchen
Haley Logue, Middlesex
Aniyah Thomas, New Brunswick
Alison McGrath, Dunellen
Kam DeVoogd, Woodbridge
Coaches: Brittany Griffin (Bishop Ahr), Kevin Harper (Middlesex) and Jill Harkins (Spotswood)
VISITING TEAM ROSTER
Gabriella Acosta, Perth Amboy
Kayla Dean, Perth Amboy Tech
Angela Oskierko, Monroe
Dyliany DeLeon, Monroe
Jaylin Cabrera, J.F. Kennedy
Virginia Lagdameo, Edison
Yamirah Bennett, Piscataway
Brianna Rolon, East Brunswick Tech
Joshlyn Brown, Timothy Christian
Nicole Johnson, East Brunswick
Isabella Sosa, Piscataway Tech
Alexis Adams, South Brunswick
Coaches: Keith Lane (East Brunswick) and Rob Gardella (Piscataway Tech)