Chris Angelica grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of La Canada. He attended High School at Loyola Academy excelling at swimming and water polo. How he ever got that horse to swim is still a mystery. After graduation, his parents felt that Chris had done enough damage to Southern California and shipped him off to the University of the Pacific in Stockton. More importantly, Chris stepped out of the pool and found Rugby. From 1990 through 1996, Chris (AKA the Senator of Montrose) played forward for UOP. Friends tried to get him to play Lacrosse, but they soon learned that giving Chris a stick was a bad idea. However, his short tenure on a lacrosse field was not a complete waste of time. This experience planted the seed for his Thursday night “Battle Royale” practices.
Demonstrating the positive aspects of ADD, Chris also found time between studying and UOP Rugby to play with the California Harlots, a predominantly “tournament only” team from Northern California. Here, Chris found his first mentor in Scott MacDonald. Under Scott’s tutelage, Chris learned everything that is important about the culture of rugby and how it is a perfect metaphor of how to live. So, now we know who to thank. When Chris made it back home for breaks, he found staying away from rugby too difficult, so he played 7’s and an occasional 15’s game with the Oxy Old Boys (yes, our old division rivals.) His mot dubious affiliation seems to be the short time he played for the OC Bucks. Let’s all silently repeat Keegan’s mantra….never mind. Not surprisingly, Chris has a long list of players that he admires. More surprisingly, maybe, is that very few of his “people I respect” are actually because of their on field skills. Of those that he mentioned for their playing ability were Patrick Caraher, Allen Rooney and Tina Nesberg. Chris quotes that she is “One of the best flankers I’ve played with and she can drink beer with better form than most guys on this team.”
After graduating from UOP, Chris returned to his home town. One would think that he was instantly drawn to the boys of Maroon and…white. Yet this is not the case. From 1996 to 1998, Chris drove past the Pasadena pitch on his way to play with the Huntington Beach Unicorns. In his defense (and his own words), “Back then Pasadena didn’t have reliable fields so I could never find them. It was well before the internet so there was no reliable source of information and I hadn’t discovered the John Bull yet…”
In 1998, All Gore must have just finished his “interweb” and Chris finally made his way to the Black Rose. Chris explains that he could have gone on to play for much better clubs (rugby skill wise) but the people on the club (then- Jim Ciampa, Boris Kogan, Chip Kelly, Patrick Caraher, Allen Rooney, Martin Jimenez, Mike Aston, Tony Mendoza, etc.) were just fucking awesome and all of the players who have come in after that (Aaron Tanner, Terry McLean, Mark Frazier… Tom Boyle, Rob Ingles… Keegan Hornbeck… some kid who just paid his dues and whose name I’ll never remember) are the reason he will be around this club longer than Joe Wilson.”
If you spend any time with Chris away from rugby (yes, guys…it is allowed and often more enjoyable than you would think). You realize two things. One, he is madly in love with his wife Kristen, who he married in 2001. Second, he is just as spastic at home as he is on the field. Asked why he has stayed with PRFC as long as he has, his response is as if I asked him to shoot his dog. “You spend a lot of time with your teammates, in some cases more than your own family. This club has a vibe that you just can’t find in Southern California and seems to be dieing in Rugby as a whole.” He also explained that “I also promised Florence Kelly (Chip’s wife and long time supporter) that I’d help build the club and I learned pretty quickly that pissing off Florence, although easily done, is ill advisable.”
After his first year of playing with PRFC, Chris was elected President. He held this position until 2003. From 2000 to 2006, Chris was our coach leading us as, coach and president as well as a player to the DIII So Cal Championship in 2002. Chris was, at some points in a season, a one man show. In addition to President, coach, and flanker…he would at times captain the 1st XV. His duties as “the Man” didn’t stop there as Chris would lead the after party with awards he selected to give and leading the teams in his favorite rendition of the “7 days of rugby.” Chris has enjoyed every year he has been with PRFC including the two So Cal Championships we have won. Although it probably is no surprise that his favorite rugby memory is anytime he travels to Missoula Montana for Maggotfest. Looking back on the many difficult “early years” Chris has spent with the club, his most difficult memory was anytime there was a loss that coincided with an ERAC win. Although he recalls the most difficult rugby related incident was helping to “clear” Will Orsburn’s head trauma up in San Luis Obispo.
When not on the rugby pitch, Chris enjoys “rearing his child” (William Michael Del Angelica), keeping his wife happy, cooking, mixology, gardening, running trauma (his other life is as a Mt. High Ski Patrol), surfing, mountaineering, fly fishing. Chris will spin tales of his early accomplishment in “discovery with an emphasis towards nautical achievement, survival theory & application.” But of course, when pressed, Chris at his core seems to truly enjoy rum, women, tequila, travel,… tequila. Incase you thought you knew everything there is to know about Chris, you’re wrong. Digging into his psyche, while terrifying at times, can lead to a better understanding of why he is “the way he is.” Chris thoroughly enjoys being married and having more tasks than President Bush on his schedule while simultaneously complaining that he has no free time. Need more Angelica Fun Facts? Chris has a master’s degree in mathematics, is a very good speller and is completely unapologetic for any of his commentary.
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