Irik and Maddy met many years before they actually started dating through mutual friends. They went to the same high school together, but only for a year. At the start of the COVID lockdown, they started talking over Instagram. Maddy and Irik spent a lot of time playing Xbox together and videochatting before hanging out due to COVID restrictions. After a few months of hanging out, they started dating on July 13th, 2020. The following school year, Maddy completed her sophomore year of college completely virtual. She decided to transfer to UW-Oshkosh to finish her degree and continue staying close to Irik. Over the next couple of years, they have gone on many trips up north and to Florida together. They have completed many house projects and even added their fur baby, Layla, to the family. Life got very busy with Maddy graduating college and Irik working, but they were finally able to get away for awhile for Spring Break during her first year of teaching in March of 2024. This is when Irik decided to take her on a walk down the beach and while he was supposed to be taking pictures of Maddy, he ended up getting on one knee and asking her to marry him! This is something Irik and Maddy have been looking forward to for years and cannot wait to celebrate with their closest friends and family!