It all started when the boys who ball were in a slump. They hadn’t won a game in weeks. They were putting in the work, hooping day in and day out, scrapping for a W. They needed someone to pull them together and lead them to the next level. Then she walked in, the general manager, coach, and baller extraordinaire Rachel Swanson.

In 2021, Zeb joined an intermediate-competitive bar league 3-on-3 basketball team with Tom Sable and Mark Swanson with high hopes of topping the league, but the competition was steely. It was after one of the many losses that season that Zeb first met Rachel, who showed up to take stats and watch her brother Mark and his friends break some ankles. A fatigued and probably injured Zeb was intrigued by this gorgeous UW-Oshkosh nursing student who arrived on the scene.

Fast forward a year and after several more casual encounters at her brother’s house, the “Bach Pad,” Zeb was impressed, curious, and bold enough to ask Rachel to shoot hoops together. She agreed, and they started hanging out, hitting the gym, and getting dinner together.

Soon enough, on Sunday, March 26, 2023, Zeb and Rachel started officially dating. Almost immediately Rachel found herself working back home at Mayo hospital in La Crosse while she was on summer break from school, and Zeb continued to work construction in Appleton. Whenever Rachel was back for school in Oshkosh they enjoyed playing pickleball together, eating at their favorite Thai restaurant, and playing Bananagrams between studying. After a few of these seasons, they made an official promise to not be apart anymore when they got engaged on January 26, 2025.

They’re excited to begin this next chapter of life and can’t wait to see what God has in store for them together! They’re looking forward to celebrating with many friends and family soon!