Among the most talented wrestlers in the South Plainfield program’s storied history, Corey Stasenko’s untimely passing profoundly impacted the community where the former state runner-up made his mark.
Part of the high school’s famed murderer’s row lineup at 113 through 152 pounds that compiled an astonishing 203-12 record during the Tigers’ 2011-12 NJSIAA Group III championship season, Stasenko’s legacy transcended the mat.
“Corey embodied what it meant to be a South Plainfield wrestler,” varsity head coach Steve Johnston said of Stasenko, a 2013 graduate of the high school who died on May 6 at the age of 29.
“While he was tremendously talented, his hard work, determination, grit and selflessness is what our program is about.”
Johnston reflected upon the beloved former wrestler’s accomplishments during the first annual Corey Stasenko Memorial Fall Classic, a tournament for wrestlers in grades K through 12 held Sunday at the South Plainfield Police Athletic League, where Stasenko honed his talent.
“Corey was loved by everybody in our program and his passing hit our program and our community hard,” Johnston said. “We obviously wish this (tournament) wasn’t in his memory, but knowing full well what wrestling meant to Corey growing up, what our program meant to Corey, and what he meant to us, it was a great tribute to him and something I will certainly never forget.”
The kick-off event, hosted by the South Plainfield Wrestling Club, featured nearly 200 entrants and took place three weeks before practice officially commences for the scholastic season.
Johnston said he was hopeful all the wrestlers from across the state who participated in the tournament understood and took home with them the lessons Stasenko taught and still continues to impart following his untimely passing.
“He was always somebody that put the program before himself,” Johnston said. “That spirit of selflessness is everything we talked about and it is what we try to preach to our wrestlers. Corey got that message loud and clear.”
The annual fall classic tournament, renamed in Stasenko’s honor, continues to serve as a fundraiser in support of various charities.
Proceeds from Sunday’s event are benefiting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which has donated more than $350,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The nonprofit has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies, school supplies, and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $33,000 in scholarships to 42 exceptional Middlesex County high school seniors – eight of whom are South Plainfield High School graduates – and sent 27 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.
Born with a severe cardiac defect, Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 at the age of 13 following a valiant battle.
Her father, Greg, was a sportswriter at the Home News Tribune and Courier News for 31 years who had the privilege of covering South Plainfield wrestling during Stasenko’s four seasons with the program.
A seventh- and eighth grade state champion, Stasenko’s 152-17 career record in high school included four Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament titles, four district tournament crowns, a region championship, as well as sixth- and second-place finishes in the state tournament.
The fifth winningest wrestler in school history, Stasenko was an integral part of championship squads that won three team state titles. The nationally ranked 2011-12 and 2012-13 Tigers were regarded among the most dominant teams in state history.
During the 2011-12 campaign, Stasenko formed a septet with Ray Jazikoff, Troy Heilmann, Anthony Ashnault, Scott DelVecchio, Tyler Hunt, and Dylan Painton that became affectionally known as Murderer’s Row, a reference to the heavy-hitting 1927 New York Yankees batting order (the moniker carried over to the following season).
Arguably the greatest single-season stretch of wrestlers in state history, the group combined for 102 pins, 44 technical falls and 31 major decisions. They scored a total of 381 bonus points in 72 percent of their bouts while posting a .944 winning percentage.
“It brings back a lot of emotion,” Johnston said of returning to the South Plainfield Police Athletic League for Sunday’s tournament, where as youngsters Stasenko and his teammates developed their skills.
“Seeing the young wrestlers (compete) in an event in his memory is special.”