Recent South River High School graduate Matt Marchesi received the Frank Noppenberger Marisa Rose Bowl Spirit of the Game Award during a pregame banquet at the Pines Manor in Edison tonight.
The honor is bestowed upon the top fundraiser for the charity all-star contest, which will be played July 21 at North Brunswick High School at 7 p.m.
Noppenberger presented Marchesi, who will play center in the game, with a plaque commemorating the Spirit of the Game honor.
A former East Brunswick High School athletics director who currently serves as executive director of the Greater Middlesex Conference, Noppenberger coincidentally is a South River alumnus, having graduated from the high school in 1972.
All proceeds from the Marisa Rose Bowl benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, whose mission is to assist pediatric patients and underserved children throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
Noppenberger epitomizes the Spirit of the Game Award with his selflessness, giving nature and willingness to help others. He is a staunch supporter of high school athletics with an emphasis on sportsmanship and character who always promotes student-athletes in the most positive light.
Those unfamiliar with Noppenberger should take the time to read this USA TODAY High School sports article or this definitive Star Ledger piece, both of which were penned at the time of his retirement as East Brunswick’s longtime supervisor of athletics and physical education. Simply put, he is among the most respected individuals involved in New Jersey scholastic sports.
Marchesi will continue his career at Fairleigh Dickinson, majoring in Environmental Science. The son of legendary South River head coach Rich Marchesi, who has compiled 220 wins in 35 seasons with the Rams, Matt and his father were featured in a recent Home News Tribune article.
Marcus Granadeiro and Daquan Colbert will join Marchesi in representing the Rams at the Marisa Rose Bowl. South River’s Kayla Kohlmayer and Madison Sporer will be cheering in the game, which features Middlesex County’s top recently graduated players and cheerleaders.
Noppenberger, who serves on The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees, has made a tremendous impact on the nonprofit, serving as a conduit between it and the Greater Middlesex Conference, which has been the foundation’s single biggest supporter.
Since its inception less than five years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated a quarter of a million dollars to fulfill its mission.
The nonprofit 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 Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $26,500 in academic scholarships to 38 high school graduates and an additional 13 scholarships for middle school and elementary school students to attend a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.
Marisa Rose Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, she lived a vibrant life that inspired.
A lifelong South River resident and 1979 graduate of the borough’s high school, Matt’s father started at center on one of the best teams in school history, helping the Rams finish undefeated and win a state title as a senior.
The team, which ended the year ranked third in the state, featured receiver Kenny Jackson, who went on to play in the NFL with former South River quarterback Joe Theismann and former South River wideout Drew Pearson, now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.