Fallen Soldier Will Be Honored by Kinnelon Soccer Game

The following was submitted by Kinnelon High School Athletic Director Scott Rosenberg. If you have something you would like to announce to the community, upload it here.

On Thursday, at 7 p.m. at Memorial Field (Tryon Field), the Rutherford High School boys soccer team will be playing their first annual Jonathan Batista Memorial Soccer Game versus Kinnelon High School. 

Jonathan Batista, Class of 2007, was a member of our athletic program participating in baseball and soccer. A few years after graduation, Jon's family moved to Kinnelon. He enlisted in the United States Army and was proudly serving his country as a paratrooper in the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division in the Zharay province of Afghanistan. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. Jonathan had been awarded several medals, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. 

Sadly, Jon (22 years old) was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan on July 8. Both communities will honor his sacrifice by playing a game in his memory.

The plan is to make this an annual event, switching location venues each year.

Thanks go out to Butler High School boys’ soccer team and Athletic Director David Doty for generously agreeing to switch the date of their scheduled game vs. Kinnelon in order to allow this game to happen.

Order of Events

7 p.m.- Teams to centerfield-march out 2x2 from each time, like they do in World Cup, then spread out across the center of the field

7:02 p.m.- National Anthem (RHS choir) - color guard from Army Reserves

7:06 p.m. - Pre-game speech on Jonathan

7:08 p.m. - Present parents with plaque and Jon's framed jersey, siblings with signed soccer ball

7:10 p.m.- Officials meet with team in center of field for normal equipment check/teams to sideline

7:13 p.m.- Captains with officials

7:15 p.m. - Kick off