I may have first met Sara during her official visit at UVA as a cross country/track and field recruit in the fall of 2012, but at that time, women’s team recruits were one of the last things on my mind…Little did I know. Fast forward one year to August of 2013…As always, it was hot and humid, the days were long, and the long runs were longer; cross country season was just a few short weeks away. For most, the summer wasn’t over, but as NCAA athletes, ours were ― Sara’s cut short for the first time as an incoming 1st year, mine for the third as a returning 3rd year. It was never easy to trade in the last few weeks of summer freedom for a daily routine that consisted of multiple training sessions, physical therapy, and team meetings, but we did because we loved running (and still do!). As it turns out, that’s where our love story starts… At least for me it did. Kyle says he tried to talk to me on multiple occasions during our team’s lift sessions that fall. I was oblivious, per usual, to his efforts. Fast forward to the end of September when I needed new running shoes. Shelley, our Athletic Trainer, told me to go see Kyle at Ragged Mountain Running Shop to help fit me for new shoes. Little did I know that Shelley had mentioned to him that he should get to know the new 1st year on the team (me) because she thought we would hit it off. Sure enough, I went to Ragged one Saturday afternoon and asked for him. My family was in town for a meet that weekend and tagged along with me, even my dog Chase, to meet the famous Kyle King. Kyle was a 3rd year track star when I met him and a true hunk to say the least. After a few months of getting to know each other, Kyle asked me to be his girlfriend the night of UVA's Lighting of the Lawn. I'll never forget when I told Shelley we were officially dating. She said, "I better get an invite to the wedding one day!". Seven years later and we're finally doing what Shelley thought would happen all along between us, tying the knot!

Kyle proposed at the breathtakingly beautiful Aventador Manor at Mount Ida Reserve, located just south of Charlottesville on a sunny summer day in August. The day began like any other, eating breakfast with our families before heading off to the lake for a day filled of swimming, kayaking, and soaking up the sun. Kyle had to leave the lake early to “get some work done”, or so that’s what I thought. In actuality he was heading back to the house early to prepare his proposal! The rest of us headed back to the house later that afternoon. We started getting ready for another fun evening all together. As we kicked off happy hour, Kyle came up to me and asked if I wanted to go outside and look for four-leaf clovers. A little back story for y’all, I have this crazy talent to find four-leaf clovers all the time. To me, finding one meant that place had positive vibes and good things were to come from it. I found one on my official visit to the University of Virginia and thank goodness I did because that magical place led me to my future husband. In fact, the first day we arrived at Aventador Manor, Kyle and I were walking around outside taking in the gorgeous views, and boom, I looked down and found a four-leaf clover. So, when Kyle asked if I wanted to go outside and look for some, I didn’t think too much of it. As we’re walking around searching, all the sudden I hear Kyle say, “I found one!”. I thought to myself, there’s no way… he never finds them! I turned around to look at Kyle and before I knew it, he was down on one knee. He picked up a ring box that he placed in the grass and asked me to marry him. I shouted yes and we hugged each other surrounded by our families cheering from afar! Afterwards, we celebrated by popping a bottle of champagne locking in the most special moment of our lives so far. We couldn’t believe we were finally engaged. We’re over the moon we get to spend the rest of our lives together and can’t wait to call each other husband and wife!