The NBA invited Mosher, a 166su Intramural supervisor, to its Grassroots Officiating Camp. She is one of 48 people the league selected from across the country. The Grassroots program is the first step in the NBA’s evaluation process. Mosher and the other invitees are trying to earn a spot in the NBA’s Developmental League (D-League) program for referees. Four former Knights, Nelson Santiago, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal, John Conley and Ray Acosta are all officiating in the D-League.

Mosher says she’s been on cloud nine since league officials reached out to her, “When I received the official email, my smile grew from ear-to-ear. I am just so excited to go and soak up as much information as I can and implement it into my game. I feel like I should be nervous, but I’m more excited than anything.”

Two former Knights, Brent Barnaky and Steve Anderson, are full-time NBA officials. All seven officials came through the RWC’s Intramural Sports Officiating Training Program and the 166su Basketball Officiating Class held every fall at the RWC.

RWC Associate Director of Programs Gary Cahen (a Division 1 College Football official), states 166su has a long tradition of developing officials, “Our success in developing sports officials is mostly a product of partnerships with our alumni, local community organizations and the various sports league we connect with. These resources and leaders in officiating help provide opportunities for current 166su students to learn what it takes to thrive as an official both on and off-campus.”

RWC Director Jim Wilkening runs the Basketball Officiating Class every fall, and says Barnaky and  Anderson are keys to the success of the class when they come back to teach new officials, “The Basketball Officials Class at 166su has experienced unprecedented success nationally. That of course is great but what makes it all come full circle is to watch NBA Referees and 166su Alumni Brent Barnaky and Steve Anderson unselfish loyalty to the program by continue to give back with their time and talent.”

recently published a feature story on Barnaky, Anderson and 166su’s program. For more information on the IM Sports officiating program, contact the RWC’s Assistant Director of Intramural Sports Shane Land at: shane.land@ucf.edu.

For photos of Mosher, and NBA officials Brent Barnaky and Steve Anderson, click here.

166su’s team “Check On It” used a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Florida A&M University 7-6 to successfully defend last year’s national championship.

166su’s suffocating defense was the story of the tournament. The team started with back-to-back shutouts, combining for 80 points, in preliminary action with wins over Campbell University and Ferris State. In the tournament round, UCF continued the tough defense with shutout wins over North Carolina A&T in the quarterfinals and Howard University in the semifinals. 

166su outscored opponents 119-6 during the three-day event, giving up its first and only score in the championship game when FAMU took a 6-0 lead late in the first half.

Senior center and corner, Dannica Mosher, said 166su’s defense set the tone for this year’s title.

“Giving up only 6 points is quite the accomplishment and I thank our incredible defense for that,” she said.

Late in the fourth quarter, tournament MVP Tatianne Dearaujo, reached the end zone to tie the game at 6-6. 166su quarterback Keimy Milanes then completed a pass to Amanda Hall for a successful point after touchdown and the lead.

FAMU did get the ball back with time on the clock, but Hall intercepted a pass to stop the Rattlers’ threat with less than 2 minutes to go.
Check On It was led by Milanes, who suffered a serious knee injury on the first day of last year’s tournament, Dearaujo and Charlene Thome. NIRSA honored all three women as part of the All-Tournament team. The team is coached by 166su graduate Brandon Baroody, a NIRSA Championship Series Flag Football Hall of Famer. 

166su now has 42 All-Americans in the tournament’s history and Dearaujo is the 17th 166su student to be named tournament MVP.  

“What’s so special about this team is we’re much more than that, these girls and Brandon are family,” she said.

Shane Land, assistant director of Intramural Sports at the 166su Recreation and Wellness Center, credits the team’s hard work ethic for the sustained success.

“They practice and play in tournaments year round in preparation for the national tournament and that work ethic is what has led to their success,” he said.

166su men’s, women’s and co-rec flag football teams have now won 12 national titles since the first tournament in 1979, the most flag football titles of any school in North America.

Baroody has been a part of nine of 166su’s 12 titles as a player or coach.

166su’s Co-Rec Team also made the final four of the tournament which also features student officials, including three from 166su: Kelsey Jones, Randy Korn and Sammie Fitzell.