Emotional home debut

Emotional homecoming for Rypien as she joins Fillies.

When the expansion Calgary Fillies take to the field in their inaugural game at Regina on October 5, a second generation star shall line up behind center. Angela Rypien, who made national news when signed with LFL US, has signed as a free agent with the Fillies.

Although she was born in Reston, Virginia, the 22 year-old has very strong roots in the Calgary area. Her father, Mark Rypien was a Calgary-born athlete who served as quarterback for the Washington Redskins from 1998 to 1993. The highlight of his career was earning Most Valuable Player honours in Super Bowl XXVI.

Her uncles, Tim and Dave, also represent another sporting and family connection to Alberta. Tim was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays of the 1984 Major League Baseball January Draft. Dave was another prominent baseball player who was part of the Canadian National Team which competed at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games.

In 2011, the six foot tall Rypien made her debut with the Seattle Mist. Sharing quarterbacking duties with Laurel Creel, she signed with the Baltimore Charm in 2012. Of note, her older sister Ambre resides in Baltimore as an Associate Manager for Corporate Giving at Under Armour. Football and sports run in her blood too as she was once involved with the University of Alabama Football Department.

Platooning at quarterback with Morgan Spencer in 2013, Rypien helped the Charm qualify for the conference finals against the Chicago Bliss. Statistically, Rypien led the Charm in passing yards with 152. Her popularity has led to endorsements with EyeBlack and TheraPearl, while modeling aspirations have featured her on the cover of the June 2013 edition of FHM Indonesia.

Joining her on the Fillies are a pair of offensive stars from the Cleveland Crush. Wide receiver Theresa Petruziello finished the season as Cleveland’s receiving leader. She contributed with six touchdowns during Cleveland’s 2013 campaign in LFL US. In addition, she pulled double duty on defense with 20 tackles.

Running back Tamar Fennell (who competed in the inaugural LFL Canada season of 2012) accumulated 271 rushing yards for the Crush, ranking third overall among all runners. Defensively, she posted 18.5 total tackles. With the Saskatoon Sirens in 2012, Fennell helped the club to the regular season title.

With the 2013 LFL Canada season condensed due to issues with player preparation along with adjustments for the US free agents that were acquired, every match gains importance. In order to determine postseason berths, it is even more crucial to score points. Rypien will rely greatly on Fennell and Petruziello to supply points as tie breaker situations may serve as the difference between playing for the title.

Emotions will certainly run high when Rypien makes her home field debut on November 9. With Calgary’s Corral Stampede as the backdrop, the daughter of one of Calgary’s favourite sporting sons proudly follows in his footsteps.

For sports fans in Calgary, the Rypien name evokes another emotion too. On August 15, 2011, Rypien’s cousin Rick, a hockey player with the Vancouver Canucks passed away after battles with depression. Feelings of empathy are associated with a life lost too soon. The sadness of that loss inspired Angela to work with youth through sports and fitness. It is a message of courage that has great meaning for Calgary sports fans.

Having lost her younger brother Andrew (who has a park named after him in Spokane, Washington) from a brain tumour in 1998, while her mother was also battling cervical cancer, Rypien has overcome some personal tragedies that symbolize courage and inspiration. As the mother of a four year old daughter, Malayah, Rypien is one of many LFL stars that are encouraging working moms everywhere to follow their dreams.

Should Rypien help the Fillies make their championship dreams come true, it would be one of the finest moments in LFL Canada history. The opportunity for Rypien to join the Fillies helps to give an expansion team the confidence to believe it can win.

Despite Rypien posting a 44.4 completion percentage and a passer rating of 66.9 with Baltimore, she is a fundamentally sound athlete with the desire to succeed. The opportunity to sharpen her skills with the Fillies will only benefit her overall game.  Armed with ambition, Rypien wants to appear in Sports Illustrated, make her mark on reality TV and become the face of the LFL. A championship in Calgary would certainly steer her in the right direction while adding to the Rypien sporting legacy.

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