1-23-2025 7:39pm

A ceremony for the Dan Grigal Scholarship Fund was celebrated

Donnella Tilery Editor

Three-point baskets carry extra meaning for members of Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s basketball programs.

Especially for boys’ senior point guard Brody Nussman, who has watched his idea to honor the late Dan Grigal: his former coach at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, blossom in a big way.

Nussman connected for a team-high 20 points for Bridgewater-Raritan (9-5)while notably tying a career-high five made three-pointers against Middlesex High School (10-3). The Panthers broke their game against the Blue Jays open with a 22-point second quarter and appropriately rained down nine three pointers in a 77-56 victory for Bridgewater-Raritan on Friday, January 17, at Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium in Bridgewater.

Even more meaningful than the Panthers’ eventual blowout win over their nearby rival from the Greater Middlesex Conference, however, not only has been the Bridgewater-Raritan community continuing to raise money for the Dan Grigal Basketball Scholarship Fund. Most importantly, the community has continued to come together in Dan Grigal’s memory to celebrate everything he stood for: teamwork, spirit, and supporting each other, as shared during pregame remarks by Bridgewater-Raritan High School public address announcer Jim Gano.

One of those creative methods of contributing towards this scholarship fund emphasized during this pregame tribute to Dan Grigal, on that note, was Nussman’s “Threes for Grigal” fundraiser.

“Dan Grigal was a huge part of Bridgewater-Raritan basketball for all of the years he worked athe middle school,” explained Nussman after his team’s big victory over Middlesex.

“Even though he was at the middle school, he was a huge part of the high school basketball team.I was part of the last grade to be with him. He was there for about one or two games, but he just means a lot to all of us and is always in our thoughts.”

Two years after Dan Grigal launched his impactful teaching career in New Brunswick, he joined the staff at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, where he served as a teacher and coach for 19 years. In addition to helping out with youth basketball camps during the summer, Dan Grigal was a heavily-loved person and professional who coached both the seventh and eighth-grade teams at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School. Notably, he regularly maintained strong connections between the Panthers’ high school and middle school programs.

Sadly, when Nussman and his fellow senior teammates were in eighth grade, Grigal passed away at just 44 years old in May 2021 after a 15-month battle with cancer.

After his passing and in his honor, his wife Melissa created the Dan Grigal Basketball Scholarship that will continue to be presented annually to graduating seniors from each of Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams for their character, leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication to Bridgewater-Raritan basketball.

For the first time in this award’s history, the scholarship presentation and announcement of its recipients from the Panthers’ graduating senior Class of 2025 will be announced at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Senior Award Ceremony on Wednesday, June 4.

While anyone can make a one-time donation directly to GoFundMe’s Dan Grigal Basketball Legacy Fund, courtesy of Nussman’s “Threes for Grigal” Fundraiser, supporters can also sign up to pledge any dollar amount per three-pointer made throughout the 2024-25 season by the Panthers’ boys’ and/or girls’ basketball teams by clicking here below.

Three-Point Shot Basketball Fundraiser

For example, if a donor pledges $1 per made triple by the boys’ team, and the boys’ team sinks 130 three-pointers at the end of the season, that donor would contribute $130 as explained on the fliers present throughout Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium on the night of January 17.

When the idea of this fundraiser was presented to him, Bridgewater-Raritan boys’ basketball head coach Gene McAteer approved it on the spot.

“I almost interrupted Brody when he was talking about it, because it was an obvious no-brainer to say ‘yes’ immediately before he was even done asking the question,” revealed McAteer after his team’s big performance, which put his squad at 81 total made three-pointers this season as of the conclusion of January 17. “I am very thankful for his family to help keep track of the donations, pledges, amount of shots, and just the high-quality character of the kids who we’ve been able to recognize for three years now with some scholarship money at the end of every academic year.”

A banner dedicated to Dan Grigal hangs adjacent to the scoreboard in Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School’s gymnasium.

As further mentioned by Gano in his Friday night pregame remarks, which culminated with a moment of silence in memory of Dan Grigal, a yearly golf outing also supports the Dan GrigalScholarship Fund in addition to Nussman’s “Threes for Grigal” Fundraiser.

The fourth annual “Golfing Fore! Grigal” Memorial Golf Outing was played on Saturday,October 12, at Bunker Hill Golf Course in Princeton.

McAteer went on to share that the original intent of the Dan Grigal Scholarship Fund was to give money to a graduating senior basketball player from each of Bridgewater-Raritan High School’sboys’ and girls’ basketball teams who were going on to play at the college level, but also why its objective has since evolved following its debut.

“Ten years ago, we had somebody going on to play college basketball every year, but for a number of reasons, that’s just not the case right now,” clarified McAteer, who is in his 17th year coaching the boys’ team at Bridgewater-Raritan. “The [pregame] announcement mentioned this tonight, but the scholarship has turned into promoting high character, leadership, and the spirit of teamwork that Dan had always embodied as a coach and an educator. For the really high-quality kids from high-quality families who we are able to recognize with this fine scholarship in memory of an outstanding man, it’s just an honor for me to play a small role in the overall scheme.”

To set the stage for the boys’ game and what ended up being the tail end of a doubleheader swept by both of Bridgewater-Raritan High School varsity basketball teams, the Panthers’ girls’ squad defeated Warren Hills Regional High School, 35-25. In that game, freshman Amanda Ciser contributed a pair of first-quarter triples towards this season’s overall three-point total on the way to a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds.

Just 34 seconds after the boys’ game tipped against Middlesex, senior Lucas Travisano (three points, one rebound) opened his team’s scoring from behind the arc during a first quarter thats aw six different Bridgewater-Raritan players light up the scoreboard.

This particularly included Nussman, who sunk his first three-pointer with 31 seconds to go in the opening period.

Sophomore Evan Woodring (nine points, four rebounds) added a last-second basket to give Bridgewater-Raritan a 17-10 advantage after one period.

Nussman then quickly hurled in another triple just 39 seconds into the second quarter, and with 6:18 left in the period, senior Ramses Binns (seven points, three rebounds) followed suit before Nussman connected again from behind the arc just 28 seconds later. With 4:50 to go in the first half, Woodring dropped in the Panthers’ fourth three-pointer of the second quarter alone as partof a 22-6 period for Bridgewater-Raritan, which cruised to a 39-16 halftime lead.

Here is the pregame announcement thet honored and exlained the scholarshp to honor Dan Grigal.

Fri Jan 17, 2025 vs Middlesex 7:00pm

Pregame announcement honoring Dan Grigal

In May of 2021, the Panther Basketball family lost a very special person and every year, we honor his memory. Dan Grigal was a longtime B-R Middle School PE teacher and basketball coach. He worked with both the 7th and 8th grade teams.

For years, he was the main contact for the high school coaches keeping the lines of communication open and providing a strong connection between the middle school and high school basketball programs. Dan was a teacher and coach at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle for 19 years. He was a kind and friendly person who was also a dedicated professional and child advocate. Throughout the years, he would also help in the summertime with youth basketball camp and his loss is felt by so many both inside and outside of the basketball community.

In attendance today are Dan's wife Melissa and their children, Cole and Camryn. Also here tonight is Dan’s father, Mr. Frank Grigal.

Tonight we wanted to take a moment to recognize his commitment to the Bridgewater-Raritan Panther basketball family and mostly say that we miss our good friend Dan.

A scholarship fund has been established in his name for both a male and female basketball player each year. We are excited to announce tonight that, for the first time, the scholarship announcement and presentation will be made at the BRHS Senior Awards Ceremony on June 4.

The scholarship has become so successful that multiple recipients can be recognized in a single year. For example, last spring, seniors Aubrey Bartolotto, Johnny Magner, Trent Blissett, and Justin Rondinone were all awarded a scholarship check for their character, leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication to BR Panther Basketball.

Many B-R teachers and coaches participate in the annual golf outing in his memory and if you would like to contribute to Dan Grigal scholarship fund, you can do so at the GoFundMe link:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-grigals-basketball-legacy-fund

Additionally, another fundraiser, created last year by BR point guard Brody Nussman is called “Threes For Grigal” and you can pledge any dollar amount for every 3-pointer scored by our varsity teams this winter.

All money raised goes directly to the Dan Grigal Scholarship Fund. Last year, we raised $3,600, and this year, we are excited that both the girls and boys team are part of it. There are flyers throughout the gym where you can scan a QR code that takes you to the sign up sheet. You can also follow their progress on Instagram at Threes for Grigal.

The fundraiser isn’t just about raising money. It’s about bringing our community together and celebrating everything Coach Grigal stood for - teamwork, spirit, and supporting each other.

The boys have hit 72 threes this season raising over $1,000 so far.

If you want to pledge, just scan the QR code on the flyers outside the gym and on the exit doors. And, don’t forget to follow us this season, either in person or on Instagram @threesforgrigal →

Thank you to those who have already signed up!

At this time, please join us in a moment of silence in memory of Dan Grigal ....... Thank you!