Mitch Zeisler - Founder, Chief Visionary Officer, Soccer Specialist, Coach

Mitch founded Knuckle Bones in 2004, after realizing his true passion for bringing athletic opportunities and inspiring play to all ages.  He holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Hofstra University, a master's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and spent over 5 years of his life backpacking around the world.

Mitch currently resides in Brighton, has completed four NYC marathons and scoots everywhere.  In his spare time, Mitch is the Founder and Executive Director of The UrbanSoph Initiative.

Erin Fleischer - Chief Operating Officer, Basketball Specialist, Coach

Erin joined the Knuckle Bones team in the summer of 2008, after meeting Mitch while watching a Red Sox game.  Sharing Mitch’s love for athletics, children, and play, she realized what a special company Knuckle Bones was growing into.  Before Knuckle Bones, Erin attended and graduated from Rhodes College, where she was a member of the Women's Basketball team

Erin currently resides in Cambridge, Coach’s Basketball for 8th grade girls (in the winter) and LOVES to travel.

Ursula August - Dance Specialist, Coach

Ursula has been an avid dancer most of her life.  While working as a videographer and completing her degree in journalism, she has remained faithful to dance, as well as the outdoors: running road races, half marathons, and biking whenever she can.  She hopes to run the New York marathon this year, and soon afterwards, complete her first triathlon.

Ursula currently resides in Boston’s South End neighborhood, and on her free weekends, loves being outside: hiking, biking, white-water rafting, or just relaxing on the beach.  She is pursuing her masters in International Development in 2010, which will hopefully allow her to travel all the world’s outdoor spaces.

Rob Blenman - Basketball Specialist, Coach

Rob lives in Mattapan, where he engages in such sports as basketball, football, and track. He graduated from high school in the spring of 2008, and is currently in college to become an engineer.   During his high school career, Rob attended the Dimock Teen Center, where he was involved in various activities, programming, and community services. He made many great connections that will surely be of help to him in the future.

This has already proven to be true for Rob, as in the summer of 2009, through the Dimock Center, he met a colorful character by the name of Mitch, who provided him with an intriguing job opportunity. After hearing Mitch’s proposal, Rob jumped at the chance to join the Knuckle Bones team and has been enjoying every moment ever since.

Lauren Ward - Strategic Implementation Specialist, Coach

Lauren, a local originally from Peabody, MA, joins Knuckle Bones as an intern from Northeastern University, where she is entering her third year as a Psychology major and business minor.  She runs there as a member of the Northeastern Women’s Cross Country and Track teams, (so of course, she loves to run!).  Lauren grew up playing a number of different sports from an early age, and especially loves soccer.  She currently resides in Boston and loves living in the city!

Each teammates’ biography is below.

Augie Cummings - Player

Augie has been with the Knuckle Bones team longer than other team member!  He began working here in the 7th grade, when he was one of Mitch’s students.  Today he attends Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School.  He has always loved sports, being a passion of his for as long as he can remember.  He especially enjoys playing golf, first and foremost, for his school.  He also loves making movies and music in his spare time and, of course, hanging out with his friends.  He hopes to travel the world and pursue a career as a filmmaker, along with working for Knuckle Bones!

They [Knuckle Bones] both made it a point to talk with the teacher and I loved how they introduced themselves to the kids. They also gave great tips to teachers.”
    - Carol Jacobs, Director
      The Children’s Center at Milton Academy

Thank you for employing enthusiastic energetic staff to entertain our kids.”
    - Gina Kun, Director
      Meritor Academy

“The performance of the Knuckle Bones staff representative was of enthusiasm, excitement, and energy.  The children seem to respond well and were completely engaged in the activities that were presented.”
    - Christine Clark, Director
      BWH Backup Child Care Center

p617-851-2928 / f617-449-9609 / Play@KnuckleBones.us

Corey Appel - Gymnastic Specialist, Coach

Corey joined Knuckle Bones in the spring of 2010.  He spent 10 years as a child care teacher, loving every minute of it!

He grew up in Revere, MA and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tampa.  He is now in the process of completing his master’s degree in early childhood education at Cambridge College.  When not coaching he enjoys working out, traveling, and playing sports.

Marisa Hickson - Coach

Statement coming shortly!

Isabel “Izzy” Cummings - Tennis Specialist, Player

Izzy was born and raised in the city of Cambridge, MA and met Mitch, our Knuckle Bones founder, when she was in elementary school.  She loves sports and has been involved in many since she was just two-years old, including soccer, basketball, track, and tennis.  Most recently, Izzy was the Captain of the Varsity Tennis team at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School.  She even hopes to join the intramural Quidditch (and Tennis) teams this fall at the University of Vermont, where she will be starting as a freshman to study Entrepreneurship (hey, who knows, maybe KB will go to VT!).

Luke Dowley - Player

Luke was born and raised in Cambridge MA, where he is currently a senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. He grew up playing sports year-round for both the city of Cambridge and his schools, and continues to do so as a member of three Division 1 varsity sports.  After hearing about Knuckle Bones from fellow coworker and friend Amir, Luke joined the KB team in the spring of 2010, (although it should be noted that this was not the first time he met KB’ enthusiastic CVO).  Mitch actually taught Luke, as well as coached him, as a student in elementary school.  Luke loves being able to work outside for the summer (as he hates the fact that school is held indoors), and is currently preparing for the fall sports season, all while playing and teaching children sports skills with Knuckle Bones.

Michael Butler - Coach

Michael was born, raised and, proudly, still resides in Roxbury, MA.   At West Roxbury high school, he played football and basketball.  Since graduation in 2009 he’s been attending Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) where he’s studying architecture.

Michael had the great fortune of meeting both Erin and Mitch while they were playing at the Dimock Teen Center in the summer of 2009.   He had so much fun that he just had to join the team.  Starting out working with Knuckle Bones through one of the Mayor’s programs in Boston he’s remained on the team ever since.

Amir Rivera-Lieberman - Player

Amir Rivera -Lieberman is a Cambridge kid who found out about Knuckle Bones through Mitch who was previously a teacher at his elementary school. Amir has been part of the KB Team for two years now.  He started the summer of his junior year at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school and quickly found out what a special thing he had become a part of.  Amir played soccer all through his upbringing but enjoys pickup games of basketball and football with his friends as well.  He balances his love for physical activity with the pursuit of a career in music.  Knuckle Bones has provided Amir with loads of work experience while providing an outlet for fun physical activity.