A three-sport athlete who earned a dozen varsity letters, Lindsay Oller recently reflected upon her stellar scholastic career.
“As a young girl playing ponytail softball and sitting on the sidelines often due to a health condition, I would have never dreamed about continuing my softball career at the college level,” said Oller, who will attend Caldwell University this fall after graduating from South Plainfield as the high school’s all-time home run leader.
“As I am getting closer to my last high school softball game, I think about that little girl who never gave up and pushed herself not only on the playing field but also in life no matter what obstacle I faced.”
Diagnosed more than a decade ago at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a rapid or erratic heartbeat that affects the heart’s upper chambers, Oller learned how to manage the arrhythmia following unsuccessful procedures to treat the cardiac anomaly.
Being a patient at CHOP was “an eye-opener, “Oller said. “Walking those halls gives you a different perspective on life. I now have a soft spot for children with disabilities.”
The soft spot in Oller’s heart led her to volunteer with South Plainfield Buddy Ball, South Plainfield Special Olympics, and to assist special needs children with baking and arts and crafts projects. She also donated her time and talent to serve as a volunteer coach with the borough’s recreation department and for a charity stickball tournament benefiting Team Laney Bug, a local organization serving CHOP patients and their families.
“She’s done a lot of volunteering and always enjoys working with kids,” South Plainfield girls soccer coach Craig Salvatore said. “She’s great with them.”
For her extensive volunteerism, ability to overcome adversity, academic and athletic success, Oller has been named one of two recipients of the 2024 Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship.
Oller, who said she plans to become a special education teacher to “help children with disabilities,” will receive $1,000 to apply toward her college education from The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
Established in its namesake’s loving memory in 2017, the foundation has donated nearly $350,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The nonprofit has also spearheaded multiple initiatives resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter coats, baby supplies, school supplies, and other items for donation upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, the foundation has awarded 46 college academic scholarships totaling $32,500 in Marisa’s name to high school seniors and sent an additional 27 elementary and middle school students to attend a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.
Oller is the eighth student from South Plainfield to receive a scholarship from The Marisa Tufaro Foundation. Other graduates from the high school to earn the honor are Alex Gibson, Jeffrey Jacome, Nick Loniewski, Abdul Cokley, Luke Niemeyer, Joseph Heilmann, and Charles Lovett.
Oller’s frenetic schedule as a three-sport athlete, who also captained the soccer and basketball teams and was a member of multiple clubs, including Heroes and Cool Kids, did not get in the way of her academics.
She earned honor roll every marking period of high school, was inducted as a junior into the National Honor Society, and was recently named South Plainfield’s Greater Middlesex Conference Female Scholar-Athlete. In addition, Oller represented South Plainfield at the NJSIAA’s annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, where one outstanding senior female athlete from each high school is celebrated.
Steve Johnston, who teaches at South Plainfield High School, called Oller “an inspirational student-athlete that can truly lift the spirits of those around her. Lindsay has truly molded herself into the type of person that everyone should aspire to be.”
Oller said The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s namesake has inspired her.
“Marisa’s story reminds me of why I need to continue to push myself,” Oller said. “Marisa was a girl who never gave up and pushed herself to the very end.”
Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa Tufaro was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in multiple extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Oller and her teammates played in the annual Greater Middlesex Conference Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival, of which The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was a beneficiary.
“I have played in the Marisa Tufaro soccer tournament for the past four years,” Oller said, “and after reading about her struggles she fought through, I also have the ability to push through and persevere.”
After multiple procedures failed to correct her cardiac anomaly, Oller was taught and learned how to regularly monitor her heart rate, pulse and diet. Her cardiologist ultimately cleared her for athletic participation.
“I remember sitting in the doctor’s office as a young girl and the doctor telling me I may not be able to play sports,” Oller recalled. “This was a shock to me. My family and I quickly learned how to use a stethoscope and a pulse oximeter. I had to take my pulse numerous times throughout the day and record my heart rates. I even had to monitor what foods I could eat. If I felt my heart racing, I had certain maneuvers to try and lower it. Since the doctor was not sure if I was able to continue playing sports, I had to monitor my heart rate every 10 minutes after intense running.”
Salvatore marveled at Oller’s maturity and accompanying time-management skills, both of which enabled her to volunteer. He said Oller demonstrated a “remarkable commitment to giving back to the community through her volunteer work with youth sports programs.”
“She has spent countless hours coaching and mentoring young athletes, serving as a positive role model and inspiring them to develop their skills and passion for the game,” Salvatore said. “Her patience, kindness, and ability to connect with younger players have made a lasting impact on their lives both on and off the field. She exhibits strong leadership skills, integrity, and a genuine desire to make a difference in the community.”
Among the greatest softball players in school history, Oller will graduate this month with 151 hits, 135 runs, 132 RBI, 32 home runs, a .442 career batting average and a .851 career slugging percentage.
She participated earlier this week in New Jersey’s prestigious Super 36 North-South All-Star Game.
The clutch all-state performer went 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBI while leading South Plainfield this spring to its first conference tournament championship in more than a decade.
Such performances became routine for a player whose cardiac condition once left her playing time in doubt.
“I remember sitting on the sideline thinking, why me?” Oller recalled of her ponytail softball days. “All I wanted to do was play my heart out.”
Oller certainly wound up doing just that.