A high school wrestling match featuring two of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s top teams will celebrate the life of Marisa Tufaro and raise money for the foundation bearing her name.

Donations collected at the door during Wednesday’s eighth annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual between host South Plainfield and Old Bridge will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

The meeting of the Knights (8-4) and Tigers (9-4), who are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the Home News Tribune Greater Middlesex Conference Top 10, will be held at the Anthony J. Cotoia Gymnasium at 6 p.m.

An individual Most Valuable Wrestler plaque will be awarded to the top performer from each team at the conclusion of the dual.

Over the past seven years, the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual has raised nearly $33,000 for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which assists pediatric patients and underserved children throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

“When it comes down to it, wrestling is a huge sport in both towns, but when we are getting together for an event like this, it goes beyond wrestling,” South Plainfield coach Steve Johnston said. “Both teams want to come away with a win and perform well. We are giving back and continuing to show the state that while wrestling is very big in New Jersey, there are a lot greater causes and bigger things going on that we should continue to honor and pay tribute to.”

Since its inception seven and a half years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $350,000 to fulfill its mission.

The foundation 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 scholarships totaling $33,000 in Marisa’s name to high school seniors and sent 27 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.

Born with a complex cardiac defect, 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 doctors appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.

Marisa is the daughter of longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro and former Home News Tribune and Courier News sportswriter Greg Tufaro, who covered high school wrestling for both newspapers.

South Plainfield, which opened the season with a team championship at the Morris Knolls Invitational, has won six of its last eight.

Two of South Plainfield’s losses are to North Hunterdon and Saint Joseph of Metuchen, both of which are currently ranked among the Top 20 teams in the state, according to the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association. The battle-tested Tigers also competed in the Sam Cali Invitational and Henry Boresch Duals.

South Plainfield, which returned 12 starters, including four region tournament qualifiers, has rebounded from an uncharacteristically down year.

“I think the team is still kind of growing into what they can be and trying to find their identity,” Johnston said. “We are very balanced top to bottom. The kids are hungry after a disappointing season last year. They came into this season with a chip on their shoulder and they have carried that throughout and have performed well in most spots.”

South Plainfield faces a formidable foe in Old Bridge, which has won the two previous meetings between the schools.

“Old Bridge is a solid team,” said Johnston, noting all four of the Knights’ losses are to state-ranked foes. “They have challenged themselves throughout this year, wrestling some pretty tough teams in dual meets. I think if we perform at the level we are capable of, we can definitely compete at that level and possibly knock them off.”

Despite not being at full strength yet all season, the Knights have won six of their last seven with the lone setback during that stretch coming to state-ranked Caldwell. Old Bridge’s three other losses came in a Jan. 4 quad meet against state-ranked Phillipsburg, Ridge and Cranford.

The Knights returned four wrestlers with more than 20 wins. All of them finished among the top three in last year’s Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament. They include champion Gavin Young and third-place finishers Dominick Paulino, Zach Florio, and Jake Tenebruso. All are incumbent region qualifiers.

The Knights, who have a storied history following the merger of Madison Central and Cedar Ridge into Old Bridge High School, have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years that includes a state ranking during the 2022-23 campaign. Post’s team is currently regarded as the conference’s second best behind state-ranked Saint Joseph of Metuchen.

“When we started, we just talked about how we shouldn’t think any expectations are too high,” said Post, who is in his sixth season at the helm. “It’s been an all-in effort with a lot of people involved over the years committing to the program.”

Post said his wrestlers can expect to compete in a “tough environment” on Wednesday night.

“Their fans are into it and our fans travel well,” he said. “They have a great program with a lot of history. We’ve been trying to set the tone between our two programs over the last couple of years. We’ve got to earn it.”

The Old Bridge and South Plainfield school-communities are renown throughout Middlesex County and beyond for their abundant support of others in need.

Through their participation in individual events or conference-wide all-star games and activities, the football, swimming, bowling, baseball, golf, girls soccer, and basketball teams from both high schools have joined their wrestling programs in fundraising for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

“Words can’t adequately convey our gratitude to the South Plainfield and Old Bridge wrestling programs for continuing this wonderful annual tradition,” said Cyndi Tufaro, who is The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s executive director.

“We are eternally grateful and honored to pay forward their benevolence. The overwhelming support of these two outstanding school-communities has enabled our nonprofit to assist countless children in need. The impact they have made is profound.”

State Senator Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., a lifelong South Plainfield resident whose legislative district includes his hometown, praised the Tigers and Knights for making the annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual a resounding success.

“This type of response really proves why Old Bridge and South Plainfield are special places to live,” said Diegnan, who also serves on The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees.

“People care about each other and support each other and when there is a need, they do what is right. That’s what community is all about.”