Our story began in our sophomore year of high school. Though we had a couple of classes together, we didn’t formally meet until a “get-to-know-you” game in class. That was our first real interaction, and it left a lasting impression. Shortly afterward, there was an upcoming masquerade Halloween dance, and Benson was looking for a date. Despite having only one conversation, he decided to take a chance and ask Katie to the dance. Surprisingly, Katie said yes! We had a wonderful time together and, from that night on, we became inseparable. About a month after the dance, Benson officially asked Katie to be his girlfriend. As fate would have it, we later discovered an incredible coincidence: our families already had deep ties. Both of our grandparents had been best friends in college, and Katie’s mother had even interacted with Benson’s dad’s sisters in their college years. Throughout high school, we created countless memories, attending every dance together and eventually graduating as high school sweethearts. After graduation, we faced a tough decision: attending colleges in different states. Katie pursued her soccer career at Centralia College in Washington, while Benson stayed in Idaho to attend Idaho State University. During his first year, Benson joined the school hockey team. Through the distance and our demanding schedules, this became an opportunity to strengthen our relationship and focus on our future. This past summer, on July 4th, Benson popped the question—and Katie said yes! Now, we’re excitedly counting down the days until our wedding on July 7th, 2025.