love in pirate nation
ARRRGH students come to ECU to find success in higher education, but sometimes their treasure map leads to love. Discover how these Pirates met their partners and read their love stories in their own words.
Happy Valentine's Day to ARRRGH Pirate lovebirds.
Angelica Gonzalez Becher ’18 and Peter Becher ’19
We met on freshman move-in day for Gateway (now Ballard) Residence Hall — Aug. 21, 2015. Our roommates were high school friends, so he came over to our dorm room to help set up the printer.
ECU is where we met, but it’s also where we grew together. From helping each other study to supporting each other at sporting events, ECU helped shape who we are now as adults and our fierce loyalty to the purple and gold. We speak about taking our future children to football games and experiencing our school pride and the electric energy of Dowdy.
Little did we know, that at 18 years old we would become husband and wife Sept. 4, 2021. ECU helped take the boy I loved and turn him into the man I married.”
Angelica and Peter were married in 2021 with a very purple and gold wedding. During the reception they played the song “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khaled and at the right time everyone on the dance floor shouted, “Everybody hands go up, E C U!” They also spoke of ECU while exchanging vows. The Bechers live in Lexington with their two Pirate pups.
Marissa Feldbaum ’18 and Christopher Helberg ’19
We met at Target the summer before my senior year and his junior year. A coworker, fellow Pirate and fellow Marine of my now-fiancé, introduced us. I was 21 and he was 26.
ECU and Greenville will always hold a special place in our hearts as the place that we met, fell in love, graduated from and started our future with. We still watch Pirate football games and our engagement photos included us in our ECU jerseys!
We do not have children, but they are going to be Pirate fans from birth.”
Marissa and Christopher live in Tampa, Fla., and are preparing for their September wedding — which will have a purple and gold theme!
Vinniece '06 and Gary '06 Freeman
We met our senior year at ECU. I needed one more class to fulfill my graduation requirements and that class was volleyball. In class, there was an awesome lady named Jennifer. She stated to me one day, “Hey Gary, you’re a funny dude. You should meet my best friend.” I said sure and we all went out for pizza one day. Vinniece says that I ordered the biggest pizza she had ever seen, and I sat at a table by myself so I would have space to eat it. That’s how she knew I was the one… just kidding!
After that, we met up with some friends to go to a concert in Raleigh. That night I honestly couldn’t stop staring at her. She has the sweetest smile that both warms you from the inside out and brightens up your entire day. Not long after that I made my move, and we went on our first date to go see “Talladega Nights” and have dinner.
ECU gave me the chance to play football and earn a degree, but ECU (also) gave me two of the most important things in my life: Jesus and my wife. ECU was a place where I was able to grow, create lifelong relationships, and live out my dream of playing college football. I’m forever a Pirate!”
Vinniece and Gary have been married for 14 years and live in Raleigh with their two daughters, Sariah, 11, and Jordyn, 5. They hope the girls will be future Pirates.
Tori '13, '14 and Cody '13 Huebenthal
In August 2009, I had just traveled 589 miles to begin my freshman year at East Carolina University. I moved into what is now Legacy Residence Hall on College Hill and met my now-husband on the fourth floor during a game night hosted by the residential advisor. Cody and I met playing Apples to Apples in the hallway with a bunch of friends.
For several weeks, we hung out as a group eating dinner at the dining hall and playing ultimate frisbee at the bottom of the hill — once we played through a huge rainstorm and were all covered in mud! One night, Cody planned a picnic on top of the band conductors tower at the bottom of College Hill. We climbed up, had dinner and sat under the night stars for hours.
Prior to attending ECU, I lived in the same house my whole life and lived local to all my extended family. On a whim, I wanted to branch out and attend college out of state. When touring ECU, I felt such a sense of community and school pride. I just knew I had to be a Pirate!”
Tori and Cody married in 2016 and live in Charlotte. Tori is a recreational therapist at Novant Health and Cody is a systems analyst at Barings. Their Pirate family includes their Shiba Inu and two little boys, Logan, 4, and Landon, 1. Logan has been growing a love for ECU football and knows his mommy and daddy went to ECU!
Kelly '94 and Gene '91 Wingard
We met in January 1991. Gene was a cheerleader, and I was on the dance team. A mutual friend introduced us after practice one day, and then Gene asked for my phone number when we saw each other a few days later in front of the student store!
On our first Valentine’s Day, we went with our friends, Don and Kiki, bowling at Mendenhall Student Center.
We have made Greenville our home, raised our family here and have enjoyed supporting Pirate athletics for many years.”
Kelly and Gene were married in 1993 and incorporated Pirate colors by having their wedding party wear the distinguished Pirate purple. The Wingard’s now reside in Winterville where Gene works in pharmaceutical sales and Kelly is a registered nurse. They have two boys; one was a spring 2021 ECU graduate and the other who is a huge ECU fan.
Koryn '97 and Brian '00 Dilday
I was completing my student teaching at Elmhurst when I volunteered to teach cheerleading at Wahl-Coates Elementary. Who knew that I would meet my future husband and biggest Pirate fan by doing what I love! Brian was and still is the PE teacher at Wahl-Coates and his co-worker decided we needed to meet. The rest, as they say, is history!
We spend most of our free time at Pirate athletic events and you can find us in the Jungle at Clark-LeClair as part of the megaphone crew!
Brian always told people that he would marry an ECU cheerleader and he accomplished that by marrying me! We both bleed purple and gold and love our university!”
Koryn and Brian were married in 2000 with purple and gold iris flowers and décor. The ECU fight song was even played during the reception. The Dildays reside in Winterville and are a family of six. Their eldest is currently at ECU and loving it. As they state, their high schooler wants to go to that “other” school — N.C State — but she still loves Pirate Nation. The other two will hopefully be Pirates in the future!
Shelby McIntosh Wood '16 and Matthew Wood '17
We met through mutual friends at the first football game of our sophomore years (2013). Matt bought Shelby a calzone from Campus Calzone after the game and the rest is history.
Our favorite part of campus is probably the football stadium. We loved and still love tailgating with our friends and families and going to football games together!
ECU is a major part of our relationship. It is where we met, fell in love and became best friends. Without ECU we would not have each other!”
Shelby and Matthew were married in 2019. The bridesmaids wore purple dresses to match the wedding accent color, purple and gold kettle corn favors and "Purple Haze" reception entrance. They now live in Wake Forest and work as a regional sales manager and nurse educator. They can’t wait for when they have kids so they can take them to the football games.
Madison '19 and Austin '17, '19 Parker
We met in January 2016 at a fraternity function. We’re both originally from Charlotte and grew up 10 minutes away from each other, but we did not meet until my sorority sister and maid of honor set us up at a grab-a-date for his fraternity. I originally had no intentions of going but somehow, she and my mom convinced me it would be worth it. The night we met the first thing he said was, “Wow, she is beautiful.” After that night the rest is history.
From ECU football games to walks with the dogs on campus, our relationship has been centered on ECU. We went through undergrad, graduate school, adopting two dogs, finding jobs, to getting married!
Greenville and ECU are a large part of who we are, and we wouldn’t be where we are without the relationships we formed, the professors we had and the friends that we made.”
Madison and Austin were married in 2021 and included an ECU-themed groom’s cake at their wedding, of course! After about nine years of calling Greenville home, they returned to Charlotte, where Austin is now working as a financial analyst and Madison as a recreational therapist. They continue to attend ECU games and incorporate ECU in their home by flying the No Quarter flag proudly.
Taylor '12, '15 and Jason '12 Blumenfeld
Jason and I met in 2012 at a tailgate in the old Harris Teeter parking lot for an ECU football game. We didn’t date for another year, but we both knew we had a shared love for Pirate athletics and the beach!
I always joke that I met my in-laws the same day as my husband because they were all at the tailgate together — and I knew from the first minute they would be a great source of fun and entertainment!
Everything in our relationship leads back to ECU. It’s where we met but also where both of us really grew into the people each of us love today.”
Taylor and Jason sported an ECU shirt and jersey for their engagement photos and married in 2019. The Blumenfelds entered their reception to “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses and to continue the Pirate spirit, Taylor threw a football instead of a bouquet! Their first child is on the way, and they plan to watch ECU games while in the hospital.
Madison Veasey '15, '18 and Chad Brightwell '16
We met first day of freshman year move-in when my friend was moving into Tyler Hall. Turns out, he moved into the room right next to mine, and happened to have gone to the same middle school as me too! Later that day, my friend and I were going to an event at Mendenhall and that’s where I got to meet Chad. We realized we grew up in the same hometown and the more we talked the more we realized we had crossed paths all throughout life but never got to meet until ECU.
Every Friday, for the last three years we were at ECU together, we would have lunch. One of our favorite spots was the Chick-fil-A in the Croatan Building. He would always try to steal most of my meal because I could never eat all of it, haha.
ECU means everything to our relationship. It’s where we became best friends. Where we got to learn and grow together and discover who we were as young adults.”
Madison and Chad were engaged in 2020 and then married about two weeks later, due to the pandemic. It’s their goal to have a big reception for family and friends, possibly in ECU’s Main Campus Student Center. Madison lives in Raleigh as a licensed therapist and Chad is on deployment in Guam as a naval supply officer. Chad was able to come home for the holidays and they came to ECU to see all the new improvements and, of course, eat at Sup Dogs. They love their Pirate pup, Delaney, and have decided that when they do have children, they want to honor where they met by incorporating the name Tyler.
Alexis '18, '19 and Will '20, '22 McKeel
We met through a mutual friend at ECU. Our first date was the ECU vs. N.C. State game football in 2016. It was a noon game, quite possibly the hottest day of the year or so it seemed, and ECU won!
Dowdy will always be our spot, but we did have numerous library dates during our years at ECU.
Morgan Ahlers, the voice of Pirate Nation football, was the DJ at our wedding. We walked into our reception to his "Purple Haze" voiceover like it was game day. It was so surreal!”
Alexis and Will had a true Pirate wedding in 2021. They now live in Ayden with their two dogs, Macy and Levi. Will is an engineer and finishing up his masters while Alexis is a teacher and pursuing her doctoral degree.
Shelbi '15, '16 and Mark '13, '15 Wheeler
We met in 2010 when I went to visit friends at ECU for Halloween — Mark was roommates with a longtime friend of mine. We technically met outside of Scott Residence Hall when he was helping us get our stuff from the car.
I transferred to ECU in January 2012. We’ve been inseparable since!
We never would’ve met if I didn’t randomly decide to visit my friends at ECU that weekend. Ever since, it’s played such a big role in our relationship as we both have such a love for Pirate Nation and love getting back for football season (or really any reason)!”
Shelbi and Mark took their engagement pictures on campus and were married in 2017. They made sure to include some ECU spirit with wedding favors that said, “To have and to hold, it all started with Purple and Gold!” The Wheelers now reside in Zebulon and are expecting their first child.
Ashleigh '15 and Taylor '18 Woolard
Taylor and I met our sophomore year of college, 2013, working at Dowdy Student Stores. We began as friends and by our senior year of college, we were “Facebook official” girlfriend and boyfriend!
We still attend football, basketball and baseball games at ECU and spend time walking around campus and Uptown reminiscing on the good times we shared around campus and Greenville.
We are both so thankful for our jobs at Dowdy Student Stores that brought us together.”
Ashleigh and Taylor were married in 2020 and live in Washington working in the careers that grad school helped them pursue. They are expecting their first Pirate baby in June and can’t wait to welcome and introduce her to Pirate Nation.
Cyndi '00 and Cory '99 Sheeler
We were both freshmen in our second semesters at ECU. We lived in what is now Legacy Hall and would see each other from time to time in the dorms. One night a bunch of our friends went to La Vistas (which is now Sup Dogs). This was when we first got to know each other.
ECU is where we first met and where we met all our best friends in life. We go back as much as we can, and recently took both of our children with us to homecoming in 2021. While visiting for homecoming, we went to Sup Dogs for lunch and showed our children the exact spot in the restaurant where we fell in love.
East Carolina means the world to us. Without it, we never would have met and wouldn’t have the amazing kids and wonderful life that we have now. As I have continued my education at Chapel Hill and later UNCC, nothing compares to my time at East Carolina University.”
Cyndi and Cory were married in 2002 and are looking forward to celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in April. Their two children Connor, 16, and Camdyn, 12, are both considering East Carolina as a future college destination after coming for an informal campus tour this past fall.
Dana Taylor Parker '19 and Adam Parker '17
We met in Dr. Limberis’ microbiology class in the fall of 2015. Our concentration was small (just three junior year engineers) so I was under the assumption that the concentration-based classes were going to be small. Little did I know my whole life was about to change.
I am a total extrovert and when I walked in and saw our class had more than two people in it, I was surprised and started asking questions. A fantastic duo became a perfect trio. He became my best friend, my workout partner and my study buddy. That summer we even got internships (thanks to another ECU professor – Dr. Yates) at the same company!
One of the best things about ECU engineering advisors is they try to make sure you have someone you know in as many, or all, of your engineering classes so you can have an automatic study person. So, from then on we spent probably 85% of each weekday together that first year and became really close friends.”
Dana and Adam were married in 2021 and now have a fur baby, Lilah, together.
Shawn '91, '98 and Will '92 Moore
My roommate in Fletcher Hall went to high school with Will. I had just broken up with my boyfriend, so she brought him to our room to meet me. She literally said, “Look what I brought you!” I wasn’t interested at first, but when I discovered we were born on the same day and year, I was intrigued. We’ve been together ever since that day.
We wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for ECU. Campus is a special place for us — we grew up here and became the people we are today because of our experiences at ECU. It bonds us together in ways that defy explanation.
Through my different positions at ECU, we have been afforded the opportunity to meet wonderful people, share our love for the university and experience so many wonderful things.”
Shawn and Will married in 1992 and will proudly share they have never left Greenville. Shawn has worked for ECU for 23 years and Will has worked for Vidant for 26 years.
Aaryn Shawley '20 and Aaron Torrance
We met back in March 2015 when we auditioned for the School of Music on the same day. It didn’t take long for us to bond considering we shared many interests; we played the same instrument and we had the same first name. Time passes and we find out we were both granted admission into the School of Music. We returned to campus that August for band camp.
Before we knew it, everyone would joke about how we should date because of how funny it would be for two drumline members with the same name to be in a relationship. After enough jokes I said, “I would never date anyone with the same name as me.” I stuck true to that sentence for a long time but between hours of rehearsals, football games, concerts and homework sessions it’s hard not to fall for your best friend.
It was originally not my intent to attend ECU, but it didn’t take me long to fall in love with everything about it. With that considered, ECU is a huge part of the reason we’re together. Had I decided to go to another school, I wouldn’t come home to the person that makes me laugh harder, smile bigger and loves me for me.”
Aaryn and Aaron are engaged and living in Greenville with their three cats – Mako, Bolin and Korra.
Jessee '22 and Chris '15 Helsabeck
Chris was in his senior year at ECU, and I had graduated from Lenoir Community College when we met. Once we met, we were inseparable and have spent only a handful of nights apart.
After meeting, we realized that we had crossed paths so many times at football games, classes and study sessions at the library. We also loved working out together at the student gym!
I decided to go back to school to finish my degree as a distance education student, and after my husband was treated so well, ECU was the only option.”
Jessee and Chris were married in 2017 with a purple and gold themed wedding and, in true Pirate fashion, the bridal party entrance song was “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix. The Helsabecks reside in Clayton with their two boys, Jacob, 5, and Camden, 3, and their goldendoodle. Chris is a history teacher at Corinth Holders High School and Jessee works as a clinical supervisor in Raleigh. They both continue to bleed purple and gold.
Madison '17 and Grant '15 Patterson
I met my husband, Grant, several times at different sorority/fraternity functions. We kept forgetting that we had exchanged numbers each time we “met” — it’s the funniest thing!
Our favorite place was the on-campus Chili’s. That was our “date night” location many times, especially with the Pirate bucks we used to eat from! I’m so grateful to ECU for a lot of things but especially because I met the man of my dreams there.
ECU means everything to our relationship. Without our alma mater we would have never met.”
Madison and Grant celebrated their rehearsal dinner ECU style by having everyone wear purple and gold. They are now married and reside in Charlotte with their four fur babies who love sporting their game day bandanas.
Sara Bordeaux Prescott '18 and Lakin Prescott '18
We met on social media in 2015 when Sara was a junior and I was a sophomore. We started dating in 2016 and took several classes together throughout our time at ECU.
We love the campus mall. We enjoyed attending the various activities there, like Barefoot on the Mall.
ECU brought Sara and I together! I’m from Greenville but she is not, so without ECU we may have never met.”
Sara and Lakin married in April 2021 and now reside in Baltimore, Md. Sara works as an assistant manager for Enterprise and Lakin is a crime laboratory technician for the Baltimore Police.
Megan '12 and Jerry '12 Jones
We met at ECU my sophomore year in 2010. Jerry had transferred to ECU and we both lived in White Hall. We met over dinner with our group of friends and roommates.
We started dating the start of my junior year and we are still going strong 11 years later! Mendenhall and Wright Auditorium are special spots to us, since we both worked as technicians there.
We met at ECU and we met all of our closest friends, who are still a part of our lives years later, there. ECU will always have a little piece of our hearts!”
Haley '12 and Rich '12 DeVita
We met early sophomore year when we were introduced by mutual friends. We met on a Thursday and started dating that Saturday. That was in 2009 and we haven’t been apart since!
East Carolina means everything to us. Rich even has a Pirate tattoo symbolizing the importance of the school to the both of us.
We love ECU and are so grateful to have met each other in college. The school plays a huge part in our lives to this day.”
Haley and Rich married in 2012 with an ECU themed wedding. They entered their wedding reception to “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix. Rich wore ECU socks while Haley wore an ECU garter. They live in Charlotte with their Pirate loving 4-year-old, Sophia.
Jada Lucas '22 and Zack Schlegel '21
We were both in the Biology LLC, however we did not realize it until we were coming back from marching band rehearsal during preseason band camp. As fate would have it, we were both in the trumpet section. We finally decided to spend some time, just us, after a football game. We were tired, sweaty and starving so we ran to Todd and had chicken tenders for dinner. They almost ran out of them, but Zack game me some of his. We made things official after winter break by going to the P.O.D. for some slushies.
We used to walk to class together every morning, meet up during breaks throughout the day and wait for each other to finish up classes. Additionally, we have spent every football game and basketball game together due to our involvement in the athletic bands, before he graduated. Now he cheers me on from the stands while I play.
ECU is a place that helped us become bolder versions of ourselves and without ECU we probably would not have found each other. ECU and Greenville will always have a special place in our hearts, and I am so blessed to have found my other half at my alma mater.”
Beverly Baker '21 and David ‘AJ’ Modlin '21
We met sophomore year at a social gathering and didn’t really talk after that. We ended up going on our first date at the Washington waterfront the summer before our senior year and have been together ever since!
AJ was president of the ECU Ambassadors for two terms and I graduated from the College of Nursing during the pandemic. ECU means everything to us and is the reason that we met.
We found the sweetest love at ECU and will always bleed purple and gold.”
Beverly and AJ moved to Winston-Salem and now have a dog together. They visit Greenville frequently and always make time for a drive or stroll through campus. Sometimes, even a dog walk!
Zoë Lukas '21 and Davis Searcy '19
It was the fall of 2019; I had just graduated and she was a junior. She was taking pictures at the football game against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 7. I knew the person standing next to her and I asked who she was. Our mutual friend told me, and at halftime she came up and introduced us to each other. We hit it off right away and have been together for a little over two years now.
We both work at ECU now and our favorite spot on campus would have to be the fountain — it's normally our designated spot when we meet for lunch!
ECU means a lot to us as that is where we met and where we both currently work. I have never missed an ECU home football game since I was born, so meeting her at a football game was just perfect.”
Olivia Airey '16 and Craig Cook '15
It is a crazy story, but my parents live in New Jersey and his parents are in Charlotte. His mom had an Etsy shop where she made jewelry. Without my mom knowing who she was and that her son coincidentally went to ECU as well, my mom ordered a necklace from her Etsy shop. Somehow, they started messaging each other and made the connection that their kids both went to ECU. At the time I didn’t exactly know him, but next thing you know we would run into each other at college and every single time would say, “Your mom knows my mom because of the necklace!” And we would keep moving on until the next time we ran into each other.
There couldn’t have been a better time in my life that I met Craig. From there we immediately felt that connection and began our journey to finding a best friend within each other as well as a life partner with a shared love for Pirate Nation!
Pirates are family. You may meet someone while in the dining hall and four years later, I promise you, that person will give you a hug and genuinely ask about your life and how you’re doing. Pirate Nation creates a connection that lasts a lifetime.”
Lauren Buck '22 and Andrew Phillips '21
We met at The Province pool four months before we started dating. We also went to an ECU baseball game that day and then ran into each other at the entrance of the Rawl building the day after meeting.
ECU has played a major role in our relationship. The first ‘I love you’ was said while attending an ECU football game.”
Lauren and Andrew have now been dating for two and a half years. Andrew is an ECU alum and is a project engineer for a construction company in Raleigh. Lauren is pursuing her biology degree and is on track to graduate this year.
Taylor Hathaway '23 and Jayden Abernathy '23
We met at Todd Dining Hall our freshman year. We both have a passion for teaching. Jayden is pursuing history education while I am following math education. The main campus fountain is our favorite spot on campus, and we will be celebrating our 18-month anniversary this Valentine’s Day!
ECU brought us together and strengthens our relationship because of our love for Pirate Nation!”
Maitland Alala '23 and Ryan Carswell '21
We met on a cold night in January. A couple of my buddies and I decided to adjourn to an artificial fire pit at a local apartment complex after hanging out for a while. She was taking her puppy out for an evening walk when she bumped into us. She and I had a fantastic conversation by that fire pit. I knew that night I had to see her again, and I took the chance.
We thoroughly enjoy taking walks around campus. I was an ECU Ambassador during my pre-pandemic college days. I love giving her faux tours of the campus, citing random anecdotal facts throughout our stroll.
She’s way out of my league.”
Ryan is currently a bookkeeper at an insurance agency in Garner, working on his state licensure to become a North Carolina insurance agent. Maitland is in ECU’s College of Education studying for her elementary education degree. She walks in her mother’s footsteps by wanting to become a second-grade teacher.
We hope all of ARRRGH Pirates continue to find love in Pirate Nation!
Credits:
Photos contributed by couples.