In the sixth annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual, the Old Bridge High School wrestling team defeated state-ranked South Plainfield 48-21 on Friday night.

The win was the first for the resurgent Knights over the state-ranked Tigers in more than a quarter century.

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Photo gallery HERE

Box score HERE

Match preview HERE

The event raised more than $4,400 for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which honored the loving memory of Ron Mazzola and Laney Stoeckel during a pre-match ceremony.

Old Bridge’s Gage Gojani and South Plainfield’s Nicholas Campagna earned Outstanding Wrestler Awards for their respective teams.

Words can’t ever express our nonprofit’s gratitude to the remarkable generosity of these two outstanding school-communities, who have now raised a total of nearly $25,000 for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation through this annual event.

The foundation was established in loving memory of Marisa Rose Tufaro, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 13.

Marisa is the daughter of former Home News Tribune and Courier News sports reporter Greg Tufaro, and longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro.

The Tufaro family is grateful beyond words for all who played a role in making the memorial match come to fruition, including the superintendents, boards of education, administrators, athletics directors, coaches, wrestlers, parents, and supporters of both programs.

Marisa was born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries. A heart transplant, which was supposed to extend her life, tragically cut it short after a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of cancer, to which Marisa succumbed following a valiant battle.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.

The annual dual meet celebrates the life of Marisa, whose indomitable spirit lives on through the foundation, which serves as her legacy.

Established five and a half years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has already made a profound impact, donating more than a quarter of a million dollars to fulfill its mission.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.

The foundation has awarded 38 college academic scholarships totaling $26,500 in Marisa’s name to high school graduates, including former Greater Middlesex Conference wrestlers Jeffrey Jacome, Nick Loniewski, Luke Niemeyer, Joseph Heilmann, Gabe Rodriguez, and Tristan Palya.

Following the conclusion of the match, an Outstanding Wrestler trophy was presented to the top performer from Old Bridge in honor and loving memory of Ron Mazzola and to the top performer from South Plainfield in honor and loving memory of Laney Stoeckel.

A beloved member of the Old Bridge and statewide wrestling communities, Ron died unexpectedly last February, leaving an irreplaceable void. He was a dear friend of Marisa’s father and, as one of the foundation’s biggest supporters, played a huge role in this annual event.

The daughter of South Plainfield’s Dave and Jenn Stoeckel, Laney, like Marisa, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. After two open-heart surgeries and an experimental procedure, brave Laney passed away in October 2020, days before she was to turn five months old. The Stoeckels turned their unfathomable loss into Team Laney Bug, a wonderful charity whose efforts support families of cardiac patients.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was privileged to partner with Team Laney Bug last year, making a generous donation to the CHOP Cardiac Center at Saint Peter’s Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick.

Cyndi Tufaro and Greater Middlesex Conference Executive Director Frank Noppenberger made a special presentation on behalf of The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to the head coaches of both teams, to Ron’s sister Grace, and to the parents of Laney Stoeckel during a pre-match ceremony.

On behalf of the South Plainfield wrestling program, head coach Steve Johnston presented Cyndi Tufaro with a beautiful bouquet of flowers after the match.