Our freshman year of college, both of us were living out our dreams of playing collegiate athletics. In February of 2020, we were both at athletic study tables and met for the first time. We kept running into each other, some instances were purposeful and some by chance. Maddie's roommates said Jay would always try to find a way to come talk to her! We started getting to know each other better in March, and by April Jay invited Maddie to meet his family and friends in Ashland, Ohio. Maddie fell in love with Jay's country lifestyle, and Jay knew she was the one from then on! Soon after, Maddie invited Jay to Sunday Dinner, the most important tradition in her family. Our hearts have been on fire for each other ever since. We officially started dating in June of 2020, and knew we were soulmates by July. That first summer in love holds some of our favorite memories.

Throughout college, we learned how to balance our sport, school, and relationship. We had different "in" seasons, as Maddie played soccer in the fall and Jay played baseball in the Spring. We both loved being able to support the other through all the challenges of collegiate sports. During the winters and summers, we would go home, which allowed us to take turns going to each other's hometowns to spend time with family. Along the way, we met teammates that would support us both in our relationship and became friends for life. We allowed each other to grow and change throughout our college years, which is why our love is as strong as it is today. Our love grew as we did, from being 19 meeting at study table to graduating at 23. Our memories from Wright State we will hold in our hearts forever.

Maddie graduated in 2023, and her graduation gift from Jay was a puppy. We have had so much fun raising Buck, our cowboy corgi. Jay graduated in 2024 after finishing his final season of baseball. In August of 2024, we were engaged on the most perfect day. Jay planned the most romantic proposal like nothing Maddie could've dreamed, and the day ended with a surprise party with all our friends and family. Maddie is finishing out her Master's degree in Education, and working as a high school science teacher in Dayton, Ohio. Jay is a Regional Sales Manager at Hedstrom in Ashland, Ohio. We hope to soon have a little cozy home in Ashland, Ohio come spring.

It had been Maddie's dream to get married at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort for as long as she can remember, going to Disney year after year with her family and watching brides enter the Wedding Pavillon. After we were engaged, Maddie thought all of her dreams already came true by getting to marry Jay. Jay made Maddie's lifelong dream of getting married in Disney come true by starting to plan our Fairytale Wedding.