The second Annual SOMA Swish fundraiser took place on Sunday, April 19 in the Columbia High School Gym, raising funds for elementary school PTAs across the South Orange-Maplewood School District.
SOMA Swish is a district-wide elementary school basketball tournament jointly organized by the PTAs from all six elementary schools in the SOMSD with the shared goal of raising funds that directly benefit programming and initiatives at each school.
Started in 2024 as a community-building event between Seth Boyden and Clinton Elementary, SOMA Swish expanded to include all six elementary schools in 2025. This year’s event was a sold-out triple header with over 2,500 people in attendance, bringing parents, caregivers, students, staff, and alumni together during three matches to strengthen our community and raise funds for student experiences.
The success of this year’s event is a true testament to the strength of the unity in the SOMSD community and what we can accomplish when we all work together to support our schools.
Category: SCHOOLS
Schools
-
New Summer Camp: SOMA Cougars Girls Basketball
Come join the Columbia High School Girls Basketball coaches and players, led by varsity coach Aaron Breitman, for a fun week of skills, fundamentals, basketball IQ, and games! This girls-only camp is designed to help players grow their confidence and develop their game while learning directly from members of the CHS Girls Varsity team, who will serve as camp counselors throughout the week.
TWO sessions:
📅 Week of August 10
📅 Week of August 17
Open to rising 5th–8th grade girls
⏰ Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 Baird Basketball Courts (indoor + outdoor courts) -
Friday Night High School League Doubles In Size
Friday Night Lights is taking on new meaning in SOMA.
The SOMA Hoops high school rec league—self-led and run by the players— has been lighting up the SOMS gym on Friday nights this winter.
The nationwide stats tell us that 70% of kids drop out of organized sports by the age of 13, but we’ve seen our high school division double over the last year, with over 40 kids having fun on the court with friends. Community hoops for the win!
Photo by Max Fraidstern, @photos.bymax -
SOMA Basketball Equipment Donation to CHS Basketball
SOMA Basketball had the privilege of donating new equipment to the CHS Boys and Girls Basketball Teams.
This investment reflects how strongly our community believes in these athletes. The funding for the equipment was provided directly by monetary donations made to the SOMA Basketball Boosters from local businesses, families, and sponsors.
The CHS Athletic Department, coaches, and student-athletes shared their gratitude, noting that the new gear will strengthen practices and support player development all year.
Through the partnership between CHS coaches, players, and the SOMA Basketball Boosters, our highest-level youth teams will be better prepared, and they will pay it forward by working with younger athletes in our youth clinics, workouts, and instructional programs.
-
SOMA Basketball Spirit Night at Seton Hall
The 2025 SOMA Basketball Spirit Night at Seton Hall was a tremendous success.
For the first time, the event was open to all local basketball organizations, bringing our community together in a truly unified way. With more than 500 tickets sold, local youth players had the unforgettable opportunity to take the court with the Lady Pirates and cheer them on in person.
-
CHS Girls Basketball Coaches and Players Host Summer Workouts for Rising Middle School Athletes
The Columbia High School Girls Basketball program opened its doors this summer to rising middle school players, offering an opportunity to learn, train, and connect with current CHS coaches and athletes.
Varsity Head Coach Aaron Breitman, along with his coaching staff and players, dedicated time before and after their own summer workouts to work with 6th–8th grade girls interested in pursuing basketball at a more competitive level.
These one-hour sessions featured warm-ups, ball handling, shooting, defense, and game-situation activities which were all designed to strengthen fundamentals and raise each player’s basketball IQ.
The SOMA Basketball Boosters supported the initiative by helping to secure gym space for the workouts and spreading the word to interested players and families across the community.
“As coaches you always want to see kids playing basketball,” said Coach Breitman. “For the first time in South Orange / Maplewood history, we found the time and space to spend with this younger generation. Myself and my coaching staff are here for the long haul and part of our future success will be predicated on us investing the time now with these girls.”
This collaboration between CHS coaches, players, and the SOMA Basketball Boosters reflects the community’s commitment to working collaboratively to develop the next generation of athletes while fostering a culture of growth, teamwork, and opportunity.