Gridiron Glory for Geraci
7/9/2024 11:40:00 AM | Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Upstate Athletic Fund
USC Upstate women's basketball and track & field alumni Isabella Geraci earns spot on the U.S. Women's Flag National Team
CHARLOTTE, NC -- Izzy Geraci often contemplates the "what ifs," admitting they "cross her mind often." However, she always realizes that everything has happened for a reason and is exactly where she wants to be. She feels no need to change anything from Cleveland State to USC Upstate and is now on the football field representing USA's Women's Flag Football team. "I'm extremely grateful things have played out the way they are. I'm really living out a dream," she says.
"Most kids start with soccer; it's the easiest sport to throw somebody into. But I knew what I wanted to play—football."
Honored to rep the U.S.A alongside some unbelievable women and coaches! ????
— I$ABELLA (@izzygeraci) March 13, 2024
It makes me smile to think how far the game has come since that second picture. No one ever saw girls playing football then and now look at us. Never a doubt!
Time to work.#ReptheFlag pic.twitter.com/vx6gqJOc4c
Geraci is from North Ridgeville, a suburb of Cleveland, and grew up among Ohio State Buckeye fans. "I loved Ted Ginn," she says, speaking of the former Cleveland high school star who became a three-time All-American wideout at Ohio State. "Football was a family thing for us, and Ted Ginn was an electric player. I wanted to model my game after him."
She started playing football in a recreational league as the only girl. As she moved into middle school, she advanced from flag to mini-tackle and made the middle school football team. Geraci said she benefited from the middle school team being made up of a group of boys from her rec league days. "They were my brothers; they had my back every day, and we stayed together throughout the years. We had a good rapport as we got older."
When high school started, the decision that was "always looming out there" was made: Izzy moved to basketball, another sport she enjoyed, though it wasn't her first love. "I wanted to play collegiate athletics. I love competition, and the best path for me was on the court because there wasn't any route for me at the college level in football," she explained.
It's not like Geraci took a step back in any way; she excelled on the hardwood, racking up accolades throughout her high school basketball career. As a senior, she averaged 17.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 steals, and 2.4 assists per game, earning Lorain County Division I Player of the Year and Morning Journal Player of the Year honors. She was named the 2018 Lorain County Miss Basketball and finished high school as the all-time leading scorer at North Ridgeville.
"It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was a great final year for my college career, and Upstate became a family for me."-Izzy Geraci
Success wasn't just in basketball, Geraci was also a standout on the North Ridgeville Track and Field team. She earned Morning Journal Sports Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors and finished fourth at state in the high jump.
"I got a couple of phone calls from Coaches Will and Steve, who kept pitching me on the new team, new staff, and new family culture," Geraci recalled. "It was later in the recruiting process, and I was actually driving home from Florida to Ohio when I decided to take a 'pit stop of a recruiting visit.'" USC Upstate wasn't necessarily on her radar, but she was on theirs. The visit went almost perfectly, and she committed. "It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was a great final year for my college career, and Upstate became a family for me," said Geraci.
As a Spartan, she was one of two players to start all 31 games of the 2023 season. Izzy averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, leading the team in both steals and rebounds. Additionally, she donned an Upstate Track & Field uniform as well. As her basketball season wound down, she started playing pickup games and later joined a women's flag football league in Charlotte after finishing up her fifth year of eligbility. "I was just trying to put myself in the best position possible to continue my football career," Geraci said. "I put myself in front of the right people and made connections with them."
When the rubber met the road, Izzy Geraci, now a combo wideout and defensive back, had her preparation meet opportunity. In one pivotal moment, she literally dropped the ball, but her athleticism on the play caught the eyes of many. "The moment went viral," Geraci recalled. "I had a lot of interest after being invited to the digital combine for USA Women's National Team."
She passed with flying colors. Which led to an invite for an in-person tryout where she made play after play and got the call to represent Team USA in flag football in the world championships later this month in Finland
"It was very competitive; I feel grateful to have been selected. These are some extremely athletic and competitive players in the world."
Although it might seem like Geraci has checked the box on living her dream, she's really just getting started, as flag football is set to become an official Olympic sport in LA 2028. "Football feeds my confidence," she says. Give me that post route or short route on the goal line—I can't get enough of it."
In doing so, she will hopefully don the red, white, and blue of Team USA in 2028, but she will always carry with her the green and white of USC Upstate.
