It was a hot July day in 2020 as Britta laid on the floor of the off-campus apartment that the UW athletics shipped her to. Unlike the AC and the fridge, her heart was running. And it wasn't because she had just tested positive for COVID and shut down her team's workouts, either.

She read off an instagram notification - "@andrew_salemme sent you a direct message." Although they had never met, she knew the name. This was that cute boy from the wrestling team. You know, the one she matched with yesterday on Bumble but never messaged. I guess he had to take this into his own hands.

This can't go far, she thought. He is way too attractive to be nice.

Andrew picked up Britta outside her apartment. They had gotten to know each other through the intermittent texts sent back and forth throughout the past week or so (they had to play it cool). As Andrew drove to a good lunch spot, Britta smoothly explained how she ate asphalt a few hours before when her rollerblades got stuck in the hot tar.

A table wouldn't be open for twenty minutes, so the two decided to walk around a nearby park along the edge of the lake. They stopped along the path for a moment and Andrew was finally able to get a good look at his date. He claims the world went into slow motion, but he might just be a romantic.

Andrew made plenty more excuses to make the hour drive back to Madison from Wauwatosa the next month or two. And since he was already in town, he might as well hang out with this pretty girl. He took her to a drive-in movie, made her a steak dinner, and helped her move into a new apartment.

One day, Andrew needed to bring an extra car home so he enlisted the help of Britta. This was the first time she met Andrew's parents and brother. She took it all in, getting to see a glimpse of what formed this man. She was nervous and wanted to make a good first impression on his family. She did OK.

On the drive home, Britta just had to clarify something.

Britta: "Soo, considering I just met your parents... I'm just wondering.. are we..."

Andrew: "Dating? Oh, yeah, I've been telling people that you're my girlfriend for weeks," he said matter-of-factly.

Britta's family finally got to meet this infamous boy at Christmas of that year. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles came and went and Andrew rolled with the punches. He listened intently to Grandpa Bob talk about making toys and Cando neighbors for hours. He fetched groceries, helped make supper, and put up with the jokes and teasing from the kids. He even tried skating in the backyard. Being in the middle of cutting weight for the season, he had a few bites of good food.

Andrew drove countless hours, all over the country to watch Britta play the game she loved. He finally got to watch her play in Labahn for the first time in September of 2022.

Andrew was training for an iron man so Britta had the idea to bike alongside him on the Friday of graduation weekend of 2023. Andrew had the route all planned out, and Britta was happy to follow along. Along the way, Andrew stopped and headed down a dirt trail off the main path toward the lake. Britta reluctantly followed, dragging her bike down the hill and dropping things along the way. Andrew finally offered to carry the bike and led her on a boardwalk out to a small humble dock.

They stood there for a few moments admiring the view. Andrew started to speak, saying the words he had planned before going off script. When his words ran out, there was a few moments of silence before Britta said, "sooo are you going to propose or not?"

And that he did.

Don't worry, we finished the run!