Video highlights from the fourth annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual can be found at the bottom of this page.
The South Plainfield and Old Bridge wrestling teams continued to honor the memory of our nonprofit’s beloved namesake through the fourth annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual, which was contested at Old Bridge High School on Monday night.
Ranked among the Top 10 public school teams in the state, according to the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, South Plainfield won 12 bouts including nine in succession while rolling to a 65-9 victory.
South Plainfield senior Anthony White, who scored a 9-1 major decision over incumbent state qualifier Tyler Sagi in the meet’s marquee bout, and Old Bridge sophomore Robert Orzol, who posted a 3-0 decision at 195 pounds, were each named Wrestler of the Match for their respective programs.
White and Orzol received commemorative trophies bearing Marisa’s picture, which Ron Mazzola of Prestige Imaging generously donated.
Since its inception in July 2017, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated nearly $200,000 to help pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The nonprofit, which makes community service an integral part of its mission, has also spearheaded multiple initiatives, resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter coats, baby supplies and other items for donation upon which the nonprofit has placed no monetary value.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded 25 college academic scholarships in Marisa’s name to high school seniors 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.
The nonprofit has benefited from dozens of fundraisers, ranging in size from tiny lemonade stands on suburban streets to Greater Middlesex Conference-wide all-star games and tournaments in which student-athletes from the entire league have participated.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s leadership is forever indebted to the South Plainfield and Old Bridge school-communities for helping to keep alive Marisa’s indomitable spirit.
The Old Bridge and South Plainfield wrestling programs have combined to raise more than $12,000 over the past three years for our nonprofit.
Despite being contested amid a pandemic, which limited spectators to parents of Old Bridge wrestlers, a palpable energy filled the gymnasium on Monday night.
The final score does not reflect the vast improvement of Old Bridge (4-3), which features rookie Logan Roman, who is one of the state’s top freshmen. The Knights boast just one senior in their lineup, reigning district champion Vincent Nadera, who dropped a 3-2 decision to Jacob DelVecchio.
South Plainfield, which was coming off an impressive 40-19 victory over previously undefeated Southern, remained unbeaten with its seventh straight win.