Erin and Anton grew up in the same city, went to the same preschool, elementary, and junior high schools, but never met each other until freshman year of high school at Pleasant Valley.

They shared mutual friends and grew close throughout freshman and sophomore year, but didn't start dating until November of 2018, their junior year. Erin was a varsity cheerleader "assigned" to Anton as her football player (she secretly asked to be paired with him) and she used that as an excuse to talk to him regularly. And Anton didn't mind the attention from her, either.

Throughout the rest of high school, they enjoyed getting to know each other better. They attended junior prom and senior homecoming together, and were crowned the "king and queen" of their senior prom (held privately in Erin's basement due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

After the pandemic abruptly ended their senior year, Erin and Anton prepared to leave for their respective colleges; Erin at Mount Mercy University to study nursing and continue her cheerleading career, and Anton at the United States Air Force Academy to study Military Strategy with a minor in Space Warfighting. They had always planned to go their separate ways following high school graduation, but in the end decided to give long distance a try.

Throughout Anton's 6-week Basic Cadet Training (BCT) experience, Erin and Anton were only able to communicate via letter. Despite the challenge, Anton enjoyed receiving consistent encouragement and Erin sat outside waiting for the mail to arrive every day. After BCT ended, they appreciated phone calls and text messages but continued letter correspondence throughout all 4 years of college.

Though a long distance relationship comes with a unique set of challenges, Erin and Anton are grateful for the experience as it has taught them so much about appreciating their time spent together, the support of their families, their shared faith, and their hopes for the future.

At the end of their junior year of college, Anton invited Erin to Colorado Springs for "Ring Dance"; a tradition at USAFA in which the second-class cadets receive their class rings. However, Anton was not the only one that received a ring... a few days before Ring Dance, he proposed to Erin at Garden of the Gods, and she said yes!

Now that they've finished college, Erin will begin her career as a nurse and Anton will begin training as a Space Operations Officer for the United States Space Force. They are thrilled to celebrate the end of their long distance relationship and the beginning of forever together with all of their closest friends and family cheering them on.