Val and Ryan met at a Nebraska Wesleyan softball game where Ryan was working the concession stands and Val was attending the game with her friends. Val actually paid Ryan all in quarters (and I mean A LOT of quarters) during their first interaction. That night, Val found Ryan on Instagram and started messaging him. The rest is history!

During college Val and Ryan were very active with track and softball. They always made it a priority to come to each others games and meets throughout their careers. Ryan even traveled all the way to Florida (TWICE) to watch Val play softball! After a while, Ryan and Val moved in together and got their first dog together, Leo!

During this time, Val and Ryan also had a lot of travelling adventures together. They made many trips to Breckenridge, Colorado (their favorite spot). Val also visited St. George, Utah where Ryan is from many times over the 2.5 years of being in Nebraska!

On a New Year's trip to St. George in January of 2025, Ryan proposed in Pine Valley, a special place in the mountains they both loved going to when they were in town.

In June of 2025, after graduation, they moved to St. George, Utah!