Hustle Points: 7/18

Preseason practice schedule released

The Knights are scheduled to kick off preseason practice on Wednesday, Aug. 1. The coaching and support staff will meet with the players on Tuesday, July 31, as they are expected to report that day.

Practices are scheduled to be held on the outdoor field south of Bright House Networks Stadium and generally will begin at 3:15 p.m. daily. Fans are welcome to attend practice until classes begin Aug. 20 but are not permitted to take notes, pictures or video.

Additional preseason festivities are also approaching. The Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon is scheduled for Aug. 16, and fan day is set for Aug. 18.

Calabrese nominated for Good Works Team

Redshirt senior wide receiver Rob Calabrese received recognition for his leadership on and off the field Tuesday when he was nominated for the 2012 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

Calabrese has seen his role on the football team change from the starting quarterback to a backup wide receiver over the course of his career, but his leadership and community involvement have remained constant.

The criteria for making the Good Works Team include active community involvement and high academic standing. Calabrese has spent time volunteering with the Achieve a College Education Program, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the UCF Creative School for Children.

The NCAA football bowl subdivision Good Works Team will comprise 11 players of the 117 nominated, and the team will be announced in September.

Former pro joins coaching staff

Former professional golfer Ashley Prange will be joining head coach Emily Marron’s staff at UCF.

Prange joins the program after a seven-year professional career during which she played in two Women’s U.S. Open Championships and recorded 25 top-10 finishes.

After her playing career, Prange spent time as an assistant coach at Stetson University and as head coach at Jacksonville University.

“Ashley was the first person I had in mind to be our assistant at UCF,” Marron said in a release. “She had a tremendous playing career that speaks for itself, and she will be able to share that experience with our team. Her energy and enthusiasm for golf is apparent, and she comes to UCF with a passion to make the program nationally competitive.”

Rompza’s camp set to start Friday

Former UCF basketball standout A.J. Rompza is scheduled to host the A.J. Rompza Skills Academy at Corner Lake Middle School in East Orlando starting tomorrow and running through Sunday.

The camp is set up to help kids ages 8 to 17 hone their skills on the court and to teach the campers the importance of academic success.

Rompza will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the camp to help pay for Caitlin Downing’s medical expenses. Downing, 5, is fighting an aggressive brain tumor called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

The first 100 campers to register will receive water bottles, lanyards, bags and bracelets on top of the T-shirt every attendee will be given. Registration is available at rompza.com.

Compiled by Andy Zunz