We first met when we went to dinner with some teammates one of the first nights back at ASU. Belén was a freshman and I was a junior. I already knew most of the girls, but hadn't met Belén since our coach told us she was coming on. She seemed quiet at first, but also immediately someone I wanted to be friends with. Over some time, I'd say we both felt a pull to each other that was unexplainable. After countless hours in the pool, study hall, competition trips, Australia, road trips, and beyond, I realized I felt love for Belén I'd never felt for anyone in my life. I knew playing sports would give me some amazing things, but I never imagined it would give me the love of my life. The first week of my freshman year at ASU I went to dinner with some of my new water polo teammates. It was the first time I had met Catherine and I remember her being the life of the party. Everyone loved her, even the other girls in my class that had just gotten there. We spent a lot of time together in and out of the pool and I realized our connection was more than friendship. She's my best friend, partner in crime (and law), and love of my life.

No one told me how stressful it was to plan an engagement (thanks for that one, guys). A lot of work went in to ensuring all of our favorite people were there and that they would all keep the secret. I knew Belén had come to love Lake Tahoe as much as I did, and what better backdrop for a proposal for two polo girls than a bunch of water? Thankfully, my sister and my cousins did me a solid and setup the whole dock with a little picnic, flowers, blankets, everything. It was gorgeous. The hardest part was making sure Belén was on time and was dressed nice, but also not suspicious. Although by this point she had been trying to figure out from me when the engagement was going to be happening. She must've known, but it was special all the same. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest when I knelt down. But she cried more than I did, and I'll never forget her jaw hitting the floor when she came back to my parents' house to see all of our loved ones. I couldn't have asked for a better day. I fully blacked out. I definitely cried, definitely said yes, definitely screamed and spilled my coffee when everyone yelled surprise. It was the best day.