Evan and Madeline are high school sweethearts who met on the Maize South High School bowling team. Now, before you imagine some romantic “love at first strike” story, let’s set the record straight: Evan was the team’s star—a league champion who bowled with precision and skill. Madeline, on the other hand, was just happy if she broke 120 (which, let’s be honest, didn’t happen often). To make things even funnier, Madeline didn’t even know their high school had a bowling team until a few hours before tryouts. She was simply looking for something fun to do during the tennis off-season. But somehow, despite her less-than-impressive bowling skills, Evan and Madeline clicked.

Then came the pandemic plot twist—just a few months into dating. With Evan a year ahead of Madeline, he graduated and started A&P school at WSU Tech while Madeline finished her senior year. The pandemic kept them apart at times, but they made it work with FaceTime calls, texts, and masked visits.

After high school, Madeline went to the University of Kansas, and the two continued their relationship long-distance. Evan visited as much as he could, and their time together was filled with Kansas Basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse and hosting friends for game day weekends at Madeline’s townhouse. Evan also got a crash course into college life—mostly through late-night Burrito King runs and visiting a few of Madeline’s favorite college bars (but don’t worry, what happens in Lawrence stays in Lawrence).

In July 2023, Madeline adopted French Fry, a dog conveniently already named after her favorite food, to keep her company while she was away from home and Evan. Despite the miles between them, Evan quickly earned “Best Dog Dad” status by sending toys in the mail and visiting French Fry every time he was in town. Together, the trio explored some of Kansas City’s best dog parks and every pet-friendly restaurant Lawrence had to offer.

Finally, after Madeline graduated from KU in May 2024, the long-distance chapter ended. By July, they moved into their first apartment together in Wichita—and yes, French Fry happily joined as the third (furry) roommate.

Then, one month prior to their 5-year anniversary, Evan proposed while they were looking at Christmas lights at Botanica with Evan’s family.

The couple loves to travel, with Madeline introducing Evan to her favorite vacation spot, Hilton Head Island, last summer. Despite Evan’s close encounters with gators on the golf course and surviving the windiest beach day Madeline’s ever witnessed, it was a trip they’ll never forget. And speaking of unforgettable trips, their first vacation together was a ski trip to Breckenridge during Madeline’s first year of college. Madeline, not exactly a skiing expert, hit 70 mph—totally out of control—before hurtling down the mountain and landing in a 5-foot snowbank, while Evan, ever the natural, nailed his first attempt at skiing with ease.

Evan and Madeline complement each other well: Evan is laid-back and go-with-the-flow, while Madeline is the planner, detail-oriented, and maybe a little picky. Madeline never finds herself at a loss for words, and well, Evan never finds himself at a loss for patience to listen—no matter how many times he’s heard the same story. They share big goals for the future: building a family, raising their beloved (and very spoiled) dog, French Fry, adding another dog to the family, and continuing to spend time with friends and family. Of course, they’re both huge KU basketball fans, and neither Madeline nor Evan would dream of being with anyone who roots for Mizzou or K-State.

They’re both looking forward to Madeline finishing her graduate education and continuing their adventure together—laughing, enjoying life, and making memories. And of course, they’ll be doting on their beloved dog along the way.