Leah Freeman Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2024 @ 3:58 PM Orlando, FL (April 26, 2024) – Isabella Price, a sophomore Information Technology major at the University of Central Florida, was recently honored with All-American recognition after being selected as one of the top officials at the NIRSA National Basketball Championships, hosted by the University of Wisconsin at Madison. This selection followed Price being recognized during the prior fall semester at the NIRSA Flag Football National Championships, hosted by Oklahoma State University, as an All-American Flag Football Official. UCF has a proud tradition of participating in NIRSA’s national events where the best intramural and club teams compete against each other for top honors. Dating back to 1979 when UCF won the first-ever Flag Football National Tournament, UCF teams, players, and officials have represented as Knights at the highest levels. Over the past 25 years, 25 UCF students have earned All-American flag football officiating honors and 20 UCF students have earned All-American basketball honors. The recognition is typically awarded to the top-performing referees at the event who are assigned to officiate a championship game. In Basketball, Isabella officiated the Women’s National Championship game and in Flag Football she officiated the Co-Recreational (coed) Championship Game. Isabella became only the 4th UCF student to earn All-American honors in both Basketball and Flag Football. Price’s officiating journey began in Fall 2022 when she began as a UCF Intramural Sports Official at the Recreation and Wellness Center. Within her first year, she showcased exceptional talent, earning a rare bid as a freshman to officiate at the NIRSA National Flag Football Tournament after her outstanding performance in a regional qualifying event. Isabella also began to officiate the sport of basketball and completed the UCF Basketball Officiating class in the Fall of 2023. Isabella has since become a high school basketball and flag football official, an NAIA college flag football official, and officiated a championship game at the NFL Flag Adult National Tournament. Isabella currently works as an Intramural Sports Lead Supervisor and has become a significant contributor to the program as a mentor to new staff. Former UCF students who have earned All-American honors have continued to excel in the world of sports officiating. Isabella joins Steve Anderson (2004 – NCAA Division I Football and Basketball Official), Leanne Surmin (2010 – NCAA Division I Football Official), and Brandon Schwab (2013 – NBA Referee) as the only UCF students to earn All-American honors in two sports. Other UCF students who have earned all-American honors include Tom Eaton (2007 – NFL Referee), John Conley (2012 – NBA Referee), Rob Hussey (2016 – NBA Referee), and Dannica Mosher (2016 – NBA Referee). Students who officiate Intramural Sports at UCF develop valuable skills as student employees and can attend external competitions with the support of the UCF Student Government. Back