By: D. Scott Fritchen

One day last September, before the leaves of autumn began to turn gold around the outdoor entertainment venue and accompanying vineyard nestled just outside of Wamego, Kansas, Ty Zentner stood waiting like a place kicker eager to take the football field to win a ballgame. The former Kansas State standout had been in pressure situations before, yet none compared to the sweat that beaded across his brow, as he saw Emilee Ebert exit the building. She turned to find Zentner, who was waiting behind the door to surprise her.

"More nervous than any football play my entire life," Zentner says. "As she walked out of the door everything left my mind."

The couple sauntered around the outdoor, picturesque courtyard toward the vineyard, and Zentner stopped and dropped to one knee. He told Emilee that he loved her. Then he asked for her hand in marriage and presented her with an engagement ring.

"Of course, I cried," Ebert says. "I didn't know he was going to propose that day. I was so excited."

And so unfurled a chapter to a story still being written, one that'll carry on through the years as Ebert and Zentner celebrate life together. The couple will be married this summer. They will recite traditional vows. The primary wedding color will be mulberry — "a very pretty shade of pink," Ebert says — accompanied by gold and navy. Desserts will include cakes, cupcakes and cookies because, as Ebert puts it, "We're both big on desserts." The wedding guest list is long.

"When you have so many people in your corner, it's hard not to have a big wedding," Ebert says. "You want everyone to celebrate with you."

But before any of this, before the wedding, and before the proposal, there was the initial introduction between Ebert and Zentner. That arrived in May 2022 at a Catbacker Tour stop in Colby, Kansas. Ebert, entering her junior year, represented the K-State women's basketball team, and Zentner, heading into his senior year, represented the K-State football team at the fan gathering at Meadow Lake Golf Course. Following the event, and after they spoke to a roomful of K-State supporters about their lives and passion for sports, Ebert and Zentner stood outside and began talking about basketball, and the pair of student-athletes forged a friendship. Zentner took Ebert to Baskin Robbins on their first date on June 7 — Zentner's birthday. After ice cream, they watched the NBA Finals.

"What stood out to me the most was that she was a very sweet, genuine woman, and she cares a lot about her family," Zentner says. "That's something I immediately loved about her. And, I mean, you can't miss her smile."

Ebert says, "It's funny that being student-athletes at Kansas State, it took us going to Colby, Kansas, to have our first conversation."

As student-athletes, they understood each other's workload and lifestyle. Zentner knew that Ebert's basketball season began during the middle of football season.

"Usually, the evenings we both had time to hang out, but when it got to my season it kind of got tricky with a bunch of traveling," Ebert says. "Of course, there were some big games of his that I had to miss."

Perhaps no game was bigger than K-State's 31-28 overtime win against No. 4 TCU in the 2022 Big 12 Championship Game. Zentner's game-winning 31-yard field goal remains arguably the biggest clutch kick in the history of K-State football. Ebert was at home. She had a basketball game the next day.

"When I saw him coming out to kick on TV, I was super nervous sitting on the back of the couch shaking, and I barely wanted to watch, but when he came out with the smile, I was like, 'Oh, we got this,'" Ebert says. "Maybe five minutes later we FaceTimed, so it was fun."

Today, Zentner prepares for his upcoming season as punter with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans signed Zentner to the practice squad during the 2023 season. Zentner originally entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Houston Texans. Zentner appeared in four games with the Texans in 2023, punting 14 times for a 42.1-yard average, and he punted 24 times for the Titans, accumulating a 46.5-yard average.

Ebert and Zentner plan for a mini-honeymoon in San Diego, where Zentner will train for a week before the season.

"I've never been to San Diego, so I think it'll be fun," Ebert says. "He'll still get to work out. We'll go on a big honeymoon after football season."

On July 4, they will watch the Wamego Fireworks Show together, which is meaningful for one reason in particular. It was where Zentner had asked Ebert to be his girlfriend.

"It'll be our two-year anniversary this year," Zentner says. "Her family has a tradition of going to the fireworks show for a long time now. We're looking forward to keeping that tradition alive."

There will be more Fourth-of-July memories to come. But none might top this one, as the couple begins a life journey together this summer.

"I couldn't be more thankful to have Emilee in my life," Zentner says. "I'm just so excited to spend the rest of my life with her, and start a family, and create our legacy, and impact the community. We want to live in Manhattan. I couldn't tell you if I'll be in the NFL for 10 years, or how that'll all shake out, but we're both excited for our future and all the opportunities we'll have."

In essence, it began one day last September, when Zentner asked Ebert to marry him. The former football player and women's basketball player, who met in Colby, Kansas, will walk arm in arm in Manhattan surrounded by family and friends.

Tears of happiness. And excitement.

And the start of a new chapter for the perfect couple.