LOS ANGELES — Karina Tovar, the NFL’s first Latina referee, nervously recalls the moment even while she tells the story years later. She is sitting in her parents’ den on an exceptionally hot Mother’s Day in Southern California, and her usually sharp and unwavering voice changes slightly in tone. It’s almost as if she realizes this was the pivotal instant, the day that put her firmly on the road to making history.

At a refereeing camp during her days as a high school official, Tovar was in the middle of calling a simulated game while under the watchful eye of Gerry Austin , best known for his 26 years as an NFL referee and officiating three Super Bowls. At that time, Austin was Conference USA’s head of officiating and one of the camp’s instructors.

Read the full article on ESPN.com here: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46246111/karina-tovar-nfl-first-latina-referee-became-trailblazer