In the seventh annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual, the fourth-ranked Old Bridge High School wrestling team defeated ninth-ranked South Plainfield 43-27 on Friday night.
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Box score HERE
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The event, which served as a fundraiser for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, was held on Alumni Night and Youth Night as host Old Bridge honored its former varsity letterwinners and coaches, as well as wrestlers from the township’s recreation and middle school programs.
Former grapplers and mentors from Madison Central and Cedar Ridge high schools, which merged to former Old Bridge High School three decades ago, joined Old Bridge wrestling alumni on the mat for a pre-match celebration, during which Madison Central’s undefeated 1990 sectional championship team was honored.
Dozens of youth wrestlers took to the mat for a post-match celebration and group photo, all sporting Old Bridge wrestling T-shirts bearing the words “ONE TOWN ONE TEAM” on the back.
Varsity wrestlers wore Marisa Tufaro Foundation T-shirts in their respective school colors.
South Plainfield’s Jose Rodriguez (165) and Old Bridge’s Viktor Ilnytskyi (120), who each recorded falls, were named Wrestler of the Match for their respective teams. Both received a commemorative plaque following the conclusion of the dual meet.
The annual memorial match celebrates the life of Marisa Tufaro, whose indomitable spirit lives on through the foundation, which serves as her legacy.
Marisa 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 was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Established six and a half years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, donating more than $300,000 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 42 college academic scholarships totaling $29,500 in Marisa’s name to exceptional high school graduates, including former Greater Middlesex Conference wrestlers Jeffrey Jacome, Nick Loniewski, Luke Niemeyer, Joseph Heilmann, Gabe Rodriguez, and Tristan Palya.
The South Plainfield and Old Bridge school communities have played an enormous and vital role in enabling Marisa’s legacy to be one of helping others.
Marisa is the daughter of former Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com sportswriter 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 last night’s memorial match come to fruition, including the superintendents, boards of education, administrators, athletics directors, coaches, wrestlers, parents, and supporters of both programs. Over the past six years combined, the event generated a total of nearly $30,000 for Marisa’s foundation.
On behalf of the Old Bridge and South Plainfield wrestling programs, Knights head coach John Post presented a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Cyndi Tufaro and to Grace Mazzola after the match.
Grace is the sister of Ron Mazzola, a beloved member of the Old Bridge and statewide wrestling communities who died unexpectedly on Feb. 23, 2022, leaving an irreplaceable void.
Ron was a dear friend of Marisa’s parents and, as one of the foundation’s biggest supporters, played a huge role in the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual.
Cyndi and Greg Tufaro appreciate beyond words all who took part in last night’s event.