University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Spotlight - Chris Gifford
02/05/2015 | Men's Lacrosse
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| Spider Bytes | |
| Class: | Senior |
| Hometown: | New Hope, Pa. |
| Position: | Midfield |
| High School: | Council Rock North |
| Major: | Business Administration: Marketing |
| See Our Previous Wells Fargo Spotlights |
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Twice a month, we'll visit with a different Spider student-athlete in the Wells Fargo Spider Spotlight.
Chris Gifford has had a long road to get to his senior year at Richmond. Originally attending Hobart College, Gifford left after a semester to go back home near Philadelphia and looked for another place to play college lacrosse, which led him to Richmond. A member of the club team for two years, Gifford said the news that UR was going to start a varsity program was his chance to fulfill his dream to become a member of a Division I unit.
A few of the guys from the club program decided to stay and try to get a roster spot. He said the legendary fitness test was his first taste of what a real regimen would be like. Once the roster was posted, Gifford said that day was his best as a Spider.
Then the hard work began. Coach Dan Chemotti stressed that the team fitness level would go a long way to success, which came to fruition when the Spiders, off a 4-10 regular season, managed to win two games at the Atlantic Sun Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Surviving another crop of talented recruits and cuts this year, Gifford and a few of his club team friends continue with the program today.
Now in his senior season, Gifford will graduate after needing just one extra semester with a Business Administration major and he picked up a psychology minor. When asked what he would tell the kid that left Hobart, wondering if he would ever get to pursue the game he loved, he said, “Things happen for a reason and I have no regrets about the choices I made and am happy to be a Spider.”
Learn more about Chris below...
Best or most memorable moment as a member of your Spider program: Hands down the Annual Vin's Hole Turkey Bowl first held in 2013.
The best nickname on the team: E- Trade baby – Nate Volpert
Toughest opponents: UNC, UVA, The Run Test
Best sports memory: Winning the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and going to the NCAA play-in game.
Favorite meal: Breakfast for dinner
Favorite ice cream: Tie between mint chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter.
Most embarrassing thing on your playlist: I'm Like a Bird – Nelly Furtado
If you could go on any game show: American Gladiators
If you could travel anywhere in the world: Denmark
Hero: Sean “Sho Ro” Robins
Favorite childhood TV show: Inspector Gadget
If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive: The legendary duo of Brad and Mark Burnam.
If you could have any superpower: I would definitely go for super speed because right now I am super slow.
