Upland High School held a passing league tournement at Bonita High School. Donnie was in attendance as he would be apart of the team next Fall. As for Sydney she was learning the ropes as a new Athletic Trainer. Its not quit clear to this day who caught whose attention, but they were both secretly smitten from the start. After spending all day together Donnie found Syd on Facebook and shortly a year after they started dating August 5th 2013. The rest is history from there.

Donnie and Sydney took a huge family trip to Lake Havasu, AZ to celebrate the fourth of July. The afternoon of the fourth Donnie gathered all their friends and family in the middle of the lake to pop the question. Sydney was brought from her mothers boat to his parents surrounded by everyone they loved. He pulled the box out of his pocket and shouted “IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING!” Of course tears filled Syd’s eyes instantly. She thought one person was missing till her now soon to be father in-law yelled at her to turn around and there stood her dad. Everyone cheered and she majorly ugly cried. Donnie got down on one knee and asked “Wanna Marry Me?”