Hi all,

We wanted to take a moment to share something separately from the end-of-season logistics, because it deserves its own space.

This is Rusty's last official full-time season with the program. RJ is heading to high school, and his daughter is in elementary school with other interests, so this is his natural stepping-off point.

Rusty joined us at a genuinely tough moment for the program. About two and a half years ago, when our current 8th graders were 6th graders, the Madison field was under construction. Varsity and JV were sharing the gym at the same time, just trying to make it work. The following spring we still didn't have a field, so we were practicing at Schmitz Park Elementary on a field that was small and circular. We were doing our best just to keep the program alive.

Rusty started helping that spring, and it was a real lift. He brought intentionality to skill development, to the drills we were running, to strategy and positioning. The program started to develop.

There are coaches out here, myself and Andrew included, who like the sport and love being around youth, and that's enough to show up. Rusty is all of those things, but he also brings decades of playing and coaching ultimate at a high level. That's a different kind of contribution, and our players have felt it. His commitment has been real, too. Rusty showed up even when RJ had a conflict was sick or injured. He's also made the rest of us better coaches, helping us grow from "parents willing to help out and do what they're told" to coaches who can self-sufficiently run practices and games.

Rusty, thank you for the care, thoughtfulness, and time you've brought to this program. We're going to miss you.

Steve on behalf of the other coaches and parents