06/27/2024
So last Sunday was the last Black Fly tournament for a very special, talented and driven young lady: my student of over 8 years Ruthie Gusler. Ruthie has been a great role model in my programs for young girls in the sport. She has stuck with it, trained hard and battled / won Gold at many events throughout New England including Tapout Cancer, NAGA, Fuji, The Maine Skirmish, The Black Fly (naturally) and others. It has been a pure joy to teach her, and I will never forget the pure joy she felt when she won The Black Fly Lightweight Belt. I am so proud of her and happy she could go out with a Gold against a tough opponent and was able to showcase her fighting spirit in front of a crowd in Rangeley one more time. I know her future is bright--> on the mats and off. Coach Parker and I hope you can train with us some more next year in the Thursdays Kids and Tuesday Adult classes before you're off to college next year. I am and ALWAYS will be so proud of you win or lose and YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE CHAMP TO ME. Once a Champ, always a Champ!