Angel and Pat met their freshman year of college at Villanova University, where they were teammates on the track and field team. For the first six months, Pat was this mythical Australian kid to Angel, who had never shown his face on the team, while to Pat, Angel was one of the best runners on the team who he'd seen on pictures around the school. It wasn't until the summer of 2014 when the two went to the NCAA Outdoor Championships together that they really hit it off. They actually went on their first date later that Summer, however nothing came of it until much later. Despite Pat having plenty of opportunities from that point on to make something of it, he simply was not getting the picture...
The two stayed friends all through college, and both remained in the Villanova area after completing their undergraduate degrees. Angel was pursuing her Master's in Public Administration and running professionally, while Pat was also continuing his running career representing Nike, training under his college coach. They actually spent a lot of time together in the pool due to injuries, which was something that allowed them to develop a deeper and more meaningful relationship.
The Villanova pool hours have always been very clearly posted on the school's website, and this was consistent throughout both Angel and Pat's time there. In fact, both had been to the pool enough during their time there to know the schedule to heart. However, Pat decided that he'd forgotten what they were this time around, and instead of going the usual route, decided to text Angel to find out when they were and what time she would be going. Subtle Pat...
After some quality time spent in the pool, where there respective alias' were a turtle and a tortoise (we'll let you decide who was who), the two went on their (second) first date at the end of June, 2018. The difference being that this time Pat did get the picture, and the two were officially together in July that year.
Over the next 7-8 months, the two shared amazing experiences together. They competed together in Ireland, and later went on a road trip which included the beach, visiting Pat's brother Jack, and stopping in to see Angel's parents in Homer City. The two then hosted both sets of family's for Christmas that year, which went off without a hitch. Shortly after, they moved out of the Villanova area, and into a new apartment in Philadelphia. After surviving putting all their IKEA furniture together, the next step was approaching.
After 6 years of knowing each other, 4 and a half years after their first date, and the best 7-8 months of his life, Pat dug up the courage to ask Angel to be his wife. This, unlike Christmas, had several hitches, which included Angel knowing about the ring beforehand, Pat then trying to throw her off the scent, and her father not having Pat's number in his phone yet. However, when the time came, it was a moment that both of them will cherish and remember for the rest of their lives.