It all began when Pat and Anna returned home from summer break during college and headed to Acceleration for their workouts. Many summer days were spent by the pool at Pat's family home, where Anna enjoyed relaxing. While Pat was studying at Loras College and Anna at Augustana, they often drove to visit each other on weekends. After college, Anna received an incredible opportunity to play soccer in Italy, which took her overseas for two years. Despite the distance, they made their relationship work. Towards the end of Anna's time in Rome, Pat visited her, and together they spent two unforgettable weeks traveling through Italy. When Anna returned to the U.S., she took a job at Bettendorf High School, and Pat was a basketball coach at North Central College in Naperville. The long-distance relationship continued, but eventually, Anna convinced Pat to move to the Quad Cities with her. At the start of 2025, they took the next big step together—buying their first home.