In November of 2018, Austin volunteered to help Emily, Haley’s mom, coach the Mt. Olive girls grade school basketball team during his first year at Bethany Lutheran College. Both Haley and Austin’s younger sisters, Macy and Maddie, played on the team. Austin became close with Emily and Macy, as well as Haley’s grandparents, who attended many of the basketball games, before he even met Haley. Haley was attending Winona State University and when she came home for winter break, she decided to help out with some of the practices for the team. That’s when she met Austin for the first time.

After Haley and Austin had been talking for a few months as friends, Austin decided he wanted to ask Haley on a date. He first asked Emily if she thought Haley would say yes, and Emily said she would talk to Haley and find out. Haley wasn’t romantically interested in Austin at the time and didn’t want to go on the date. Emily told Haley that one date wouldn’t hurt, and convinced her to go. They ended up going to a Minnesota Twins baseball game May 15, 2019, and they had an awesome time. Haley actually lost her voice by the end of the day because they had talked so much.

A few dates later, on May 22, 2019, Austin asked Haley to be his girlfriend and they have been inseparable ever since. Haley ended up transferring to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, while Austin stayed at Bethany in Mankato. Austin made the drive at least once a week to visit her while she was at school. When the Covid pandemic hit and her college classes were moved online, Haley moved back to Mankato. Haley graduated from the University of Minnesota in May 2022 with a biology degree and is now applying to medical schools. Austin is hoping to obtain a masters degree in sports psychology in the future.

While they were dating, Haley and Austin had the opportunity to travel and it has been one of their favorite things to do. They took a road trip to Colorado and Utah in April of 2020 for a staycation when the world was shut down during the pandemic. In August of 2021, Austin took Haley to explore Glacier National Park in Montana for her 21st birthday. Haley’s family brought Austin along on their vacations to a resort in Costa Rica in January 2022 and on their fishing trip to Alaska in July 2022. They also love visiting Haley’s brother, Dylan, and his girlfriend, Nadine, in Fort Myers Florida, where they go to college. During the summers, they enjoy traveling to their families cabins and spending time on the lake. Austin’s family visits Lake Petenwell in Wisconsin and Haley’s family has a cabin on Lake Miltona in Alexandria, Minnesota.

Austin popped the question on December 22, 2022 after 3.5 years of dating. He took Haley to a romantic dinner and then brought her back to her parent’s house. Nadine and Macy took Haley shopping for a few hours to distract her while Austin prepared for the proposal. When Haley returned to the house, she found Austin waiting for her at the end of a trail of rose petals and candles. He was standing by the Christmas tree with a “Marry Me” sign that he made out of flowers, when he got down on one knee. Haley said YES!