A program that was launched just two years ago has blossomed into one of the most popular and successful programs at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
This well-tuned group is known as the Unified Basketball Team.
And this winter, the beat –and the sound of the basketballs on the gym floor–goes on.
There are 34 Bridgewater-Raritan High School students who comprise this winter’s unit, which is following the success of the 2023-2024 team.
So said the program’s passionate and dedicated head coach Cynthia Wong, who directs this team of students who attend Special Education classes and students who are involved in the Physical Education Department's Partners Program.
“ It’s been a great start to the season. We picked up right where we left off last year,’’ said Coach Wong, who is the Special Education-Autism Teacher at the high school.
She noticed that the students are extending a procedure that started in 2022-2023 when 16 players were assembled through a maiden season that ended with a 1-5 record.
“It didn’t take long for our peers and athletes to form great relationships and trust from one another. The way they’ve been working together and gaining confidence from each other has been inspiring,’ Coach Wong revealed.
One student who has easily made the transition form last winter to this year is senior Joe Ciufo, who was a member of last year’s unit.
“This is a lot of fun and I look forward to playing again this year,” said Ciufo, who is one of the many athletes who compete on high school teams. He plays golf in the spring.
While he enjoys basketball, he especially enjoys seeing the reactions of his teammates on the court.
“Making these kids smile and making their days better is special,” he said.
Last winter, with a robust roster of 35 players, the team took off and finished with a 7-3 record, and its first appearance in the NJSIAA state tournament.
And once in the state tournament, Bridgewater-Raritan surged to the semifinal round when its magical season came to a close with a 31-26 defeat to Hunterdon Central Regional High School on Saturday, February 24, at Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium.
“We are confident that we will be back in the state tournament,’’ Ciufo claimed.
This season started off with a result that may prove Ciufo right.
Bridgewater-Raritan opened with a 32-29 victory against Hillsborough High School on December 17 on the road.
“We showed great defense, communication and teamwork!,” Coach Wong reported.
Bridgewater-Raritan will be seeking revenge in the second game of the season when it travels to Flemington on Thursday January 9, to play Hunterdon Central, the school that knocked the Panthers out of last winter’s state tournament.
Then Bridgewater-Raritan will return to its campus and serve as the host to its home opener on Tuesday, January 14, against North Hunterdon Regional High School. The game will tip off at 4 p.m. in the high school’s old gym.
Coach Wong also shared that “ new this year; Unified Basketball is now included on nj.com high school sports thanks to Special Olympics and NJSIAA. You can also view individual stats and State standings. There’s an official post season that will be run similarly to how Varsity Basketball runs their postseason as well. New Jersey is the first state in the country that includes Unified Basketball in their varsity sport reporting hub/website.”
Coach Wong concluded:
“I’m very excited about the potential of the team this year!”
The team roster and the game schedule are listed below.
2024-2025 UNIFIED BASKETBALL ROSTER
Head Coach: Cynthia Wong
Assistant Coaches: Rhonda Fishburn, Tito Santos, Kristin Winchock
Pranav Bhagarith
Haylie Billerman
Anthony Ciminelli
Joey Confalone
Kyle Cosenza
Joey Ciufo
Owen Crimmins
Audra Day
Ciara Decarlo
Luke Durda
Alyssa Eschmann
Eve Fine
Harry Fromberg
Gio Fuentes
Andy Gallup
Matthew Kronengold
Matthew Lehberger
Sienna Newsome
Brody Nussman
Daniel Oldham
Jayden Patel
Lexi Perle
Emmie Radha
Sarah Rashid
Vivian Seymour
Rishi Thoppay
Lucas Travisano
Anurag Trivedi
Patrick Turner
Sara Winchock
Summer Winchock
Camilla Yakhtelska
Arjun Yalamanchili
Shaunak Yalgi
2024-2025 UNIFIED BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
12/17 @ Hillsborough High School, 3:45 p.m.
1/9 @ Hunterdon Central High School, 3:45 p.m.
1/14 vs. North Hunterdon High School in Old Gym, 4 p.m.
1/16 @ Old Bridge High School, 4 p.m.
1/23 vs. Chatham High School, Old Gym, 4 p.m.
1/28 vs. Hunterdon Central High School, Old Gym, 4 p.m.
2/4 vs. Old Bridge High School, Old Gym, 4 p.m.
2/6 @ North Hunterdon High School, 4 p.m.
2/11 SENIOR NIGHT vs. Hillsborough High School, Vaughn Stapleton Gym, 3:45 p.m.
NJSIAA State Tournament to begin the week of 2/24.