The Marisa Tufaro Foundation would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the players, coaches, officials, volunteers and all who attended the 2018 Greater Middlesex Conference Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star doubleheader for enabling Marisa’s legacy to be one of assisting others.
All proceeds from the girls and boys all-star contests, featuring the league’s top upperclassmen, benefited our tax-exempt nonprofit.
Our foundation would also like to express its sincere appreciation to Woodbridge High School and the Woodbridge Township Board of Education for donating its staff and facility for the event. Thanks, also, to Leisure Sporting Goods for donating T-shirts for the players.
We congratulate all of the all-stars on their successful careers and wish each of them the best in their future endeavors.
Joe DaRold, official videographer of the Snapple Bowl, volunteered his time and expertise to provide video highlights of the girls all-star game and the boys all-star game. Complete rosters for the all-star teams can be found below.
A tax-exempt nonprofit whose mission is to help Middlesex County children in need, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was established eight months ago in loving memory of Marisa, who died last year at the age of 13.
Through the generosity of those who have made private donations or participated in fundraising events, such as the GMCBCA all-star doubleheader, our foundation has already made a profound impact on pediatric patients and other children in need.
You can read about those initiatives in detail by clicking on any of the links below:
- Partnered with Old Bridge High School to collect thousands of toys for pediatric patients at Saint Peter’s University Children’s Hospital and Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.
- Funded the purchase of brand new metal bunk beds for campers at Kiddie Keep Well Camp, which serves more than 600 underserved Middlesex County children annually.
- Supported instruction and supplies for an art therapy program at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital, to which the foundation also provided funds for infant mobiles, toy cars staff use to transport children to the operating room for surgery and bubbles to be included in welcome bags.
- Provided money for equipment and supplies for students with disabilities who utilize the Lakeview School’s newly constructed aquatics center.
- Provided medical alert bracelets to children with autism and pediatric patients with chronic illness who receive outstanding care from Children’s Specialized Hospital, which annually serves more than 34,000 children statewide.
- Partially funded the Make-A-Wish of a Middlesex County boy who is winning a battle with high-risk neuroblastoma.
- Provided physical therapy at Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Centerand Project Walk for Middlesex County children whose families do not have health insurance or whose families’ health insurer does not cover the cost of the physical therapy.
- Raised money and collected nonperishable food items to benefit Middlesex County children and their families through Hands of Hope via our foundation’s participation in the Race to Outrun Hunger.
- 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.
- Conducted a coat drive for Middlesex County children.
- Provided gift cards for pediatric patients and their families.
- Provided scholarships for Middlesex County students.
Marisa was born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries. A heart transplant, which was supposed to extend Marisa’s life, tragically cut it short after a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of Stage IV cancer. After chemotherapy and radiation treatments failed to thwart the relentless onslaught of an aggressive disease that riddled Marisa’s brain and body, she succumbed to her illness on January 30, 2017 following a valiant battle. Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa lived a vibrant life that inspired. She would have been a freshman at Edison High School this year.
GMC BOYS ALL-STARS
WHITE 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: Jim Macomber (Old Bridge) and Chris Garcia (J.P. Stevens)
BLACK 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: Mugsy White (Carteret)and Mike Thompson (St. Joseph)
GMC GIRLS ALL-STARS
WHITE 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)
BLACK 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)