The Greater Middlesex Conference celebrated 68 student-athletes who have conducted themselves on and off the field with dignity and grace during the 25th annual Dan Hayston Memorial Sportsmanship Awards Luncheon at The Pines Manor in Edison on April 15.
In addition, the conference honored four student-athletes with Kindness Counts Awards.
Despite the added pressure of being held to a higher standard as a student-athlete, the Sportsmanship Award recipients have set an example for teammates and opponents, served as role models for youngsters, and are a credit to their schools and communities.
They are a reflection of their parents, coaches, and teachers, who have molded them to respect the game, its rules, its officials, and its participants.
A complete list of honorees can be found at the bottom of this story
In addition to honoring one boy and one girl from each member school with an individual Sportsmanship Award, the conference presented team Sportsmanship Awards to East Brunswick, Colonia, Piscataway, South Brunswick and South River for accumulating the most team sportsmanship awards during the spring 2025, fall 2025 and winter 2026 seasons combined.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON PHOTO GALLERY
The Sportsmanship Award’s namesake, Dan Hayston, coached boys soccer for 22 years and taught physical education for three decades at East Brunswick High School, where he compiled a 358-91-24 mark and won a league record 10 conference tournament championships. The legendary Hall of Fame coach passed away in 2006 at the age of 56.
The four student-athletes who received Greater Middlesex Conference Kindness Counts Awards during the luncheon were Brendan Lell of South River, Justin Kong of South Brunswick, Alanna Beltre Reyes of New Brunswick, and James Angermeier of South Brunswick (please click on the name of each award recipient to read a story about their kindness).
The award, which The Peter Fund and The Marisa Tufaro Foundation sponsored in partnership with the conference, is presented annually to student-athletes who demonstrate compassion, generosity, kindness, sportsmanship, inclusivity, and empathy.
In recognition of the award, each student-athlete received a commemorative plaque and $500 to donate in their name and honor to a charity of their choice that assists Middlesex County children in need. Jim Gano of Crown Trophy in Flemington donated the plaques.
The Kindness Counts Award was established in loving memory of the late Peter Bonn Elchoness, a student-athlete from Niwot High School in Colorado who died suddenly and without warning in his sleep from a rare disease that causes damage to the heart.
Peter was renowned throughout his school community as a magnetic presence who always looked out for others. Shortly after his passing at the age of 17 in November 2022, Peter’s family learned even more about his generosity of spirit through condolence letters they received from his classmates. Among other acts, Peter stood up to bullies, supported kids in crisis, and rooted for teammates and competitors.
His parents, Dave Elchoness, an Edison High School alumnus (Class of 1989), and Eve Bonn, were told Peter saved lives.
Student-athletes, many of whom are looked up to as leaders, are often held to a higher standard. The manner in which they conduct themselves reflects upon the name that appears on the back and front of their jerseys. Student-athletes, such as Peter, who as an accomplished fencer qualified for the Junior Olympics, can make a difference outside the competitive arena.
“Simply put, Peter is no longer here but the world desperately needs more of what he did during his lifetime,” said Dave Elchoness, noting that despite Peter’s untimely passing, his legacy of honorable deeds continues. “To be able to honor Peter’s memory by presenting this award to student-athletes in Middlesex County, a place where I no longer live but for which I will always feel a deep fondness, is profoundly meaningful.”
Dave Elchoness is a friend and former Edison High School classmate of Cyndi Tufaro, who along with her husband Greg founded The Marisa Tufaro Foundation in memory of their inspirational daughter to assist pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
Born with a severe cardiac defect, Marisa survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing in 2017 to a rare form of cancer. She was just 13 years old.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments, Marisa was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student who lived an inspirational life.
With incredible support from Greater Middlesex Conference schools, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated nearly $450,000 to fulfill its mission.
The nonprofit has also spearheaded drives that have generated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, children’s books, baby supplies, school supplies, and other items for donation upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $36,500 in scholarships to 50 exceptional Middlesex County high school seniors and sent 31 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.
“Out of an unfathomable tragedy, the Bonn-Elchoness family has found an ineffably meaningful way to keep alive Peter’s indomitable spirit,” Cyndi Tufaro said. “The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is honored to partner with The Peter Fund and the Greater Middlesex Conference on this important initiative.
“We welcome the opportunity to celebrate student-athletes who never met Peter but mirror his benevolent nature.”
Following is a complete list of Greater Middlesex Conference Sportsmanship Award recipients.
Calvary Christian: Ethan Jenkins, Cora Durkin
Carteret: Jeremiah Arrington, Mariana Cepeda-Morel
Colonia: Dylan Chiera, Christina Grasso
Dunellen: Devyn DaSilva, Marissa De La Cruz
East Brunswick: Noah DeJesus, Julia Rose
East Brunswick Magnet: Stephan Zappola, Sienna Dixon
Edison Academy Magnet: Advait Baijulal, Syna Goyal,
Edison: Brett Bills, Luisaura Mieses
Highland Park: Trevor Salihagic, Connie Zhang
J.F. Kennedy: Grant Lorentzen, Anastasia Kotsakis
John P. Stevens: Kyle Ng, Neeva Sule
Metuchen: Colin Gawronski, Lucie Pallotta
Middlesex: Sean Hughes, Lahna-Rose Tomlinson
Monroe: Dominick Duarte, Keisha Gandhi
Mother Seton: Kiera Duffy
New Brunswick: Zacchaus Parker, Hanna Amairani Marin-Juarez
North Brunswick: Schwann Grimes III, Vivien Tirpak
North Plainfield: Daniel Henry, Alena Jenkins
Old Bridge: Oskar Lapinski, Victoria Botte
Perth Amboy: Gerald Michael Jimenez, Alyson Elicea
Perth Amboy Magnet: Ethan Chendorain, Mextli Lomeli-Roman
Piscataway: Ethan Metzger, Ana Brito
Piscataway Magnet: Haaji Moore, Yaretzi Lomeli-Roman
Saint Joseph: Ryan Hilongos
Saint Thomas Aquinas: Anthony Perez, Supriyha Moore
Sayreville: Samuel Jones, Karina Cardoso
Somerset Tech: Hunter Sibilia, Taylor Robertson
South Amboy: Mario Garcete, Gabrielle Evanski
South Brunswick: Tarun Shrivastava, Sruthi Murugan
South Plainfield: James Katsingris, Samantha Moench
South River: Filipe Granadeiro, Sara Costa
Spotswood: Landin Bua, Brianna Del Aversano
Timothy Christian: Anthony Snyder, Lacy King
Wardlaw-Hartridge: Kuljot Sindhar, Rewa Gandhi
Woodbridge Academy Magnet: Ryan Joseph, Veda Sudhini
Woodbridge: Matthew Corbett, Riley Vazquez