Carley and Patrick’s story began in 2017 on WVU's Swim Club, where they officially met for the first time. Patrick had already known Carley’s older sister and brother-in-law, Kelsey and Gabe, for years, yet their paths never crossed in any meaningful way until then. Interestingly, Carley and Patrick were both in Kelsey and Gabe’s wedding in 2015 but hardly acknowledged each other – something they laugh about now. Fast forward to April 2018, they traveled with the swim club to the College Club Swimming National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. From that moment on, they haven’t stopped laughing together. They first bonded over their love for The Office, but quickly realized their similarities ran deeper and their conversations could last for hours. In many ways, their blossoming relationship felt like rekindling an old friendship. By August 2018, they officially began dating. What’s the saying… distance makes the heart grow fonder? The next four years were spent in a long-distance relationship while Patrick worked in Baltimore, MD and then began medical school at WVSOM in Lewisburg, WV. During this time, Carley was completing her undergraduate and master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering at WVU. Despite the miles between them, their bond only grew stronger. They relied on phone calls, FaceTime, online games, and mailing letters back and forth. And they treasured time spent together more than ever. The distance between them finally closed in July 2022, and the foundation they built while apart flourished. They both have a competitive streak, making game nights…lively. They enjoy battling it out on the pickleball courts, discussing fantasy book plots, and bouncing creative ideas off each other. Patrick constantly tries to keep Carley awake long enough to finish their favorite TV series; a challenge he rarely wins but never gives up on. Patrick popped the question on May 18th, 2024, after following a blueprint Carley unknowingly laid out for him 6 years prior. At the beginning of their relationship, many of their conversations were prompted by a made-up game called RQoTD (random question of the day). One day, the question was “What is your perfect day?” Carley replied with an unrealistic scenario in which she’d wake up at a beach, visit a big city, and be back at her family’s fire pit all in one day. When she answered, Patrick knew how he was going to propose one day. While it would be impossible to fit Carley’s perfect day all in one actual day, Patrick took on the challenge and executed it over the span of a week. Carley and Patrick vacationed in Anna Maria Island, FL on the days leading up to the proposal. They spent mornings at Bean Point Beach and an evening in Tampa, FL. When the trip concluded, Patrick got down on one knee by her family’s firepit and showed her how all the details of her perfect day became a reality. Carley’s perfect day ended better than she could have ever dreamed.