Where do we begin with these two kids? Let’s start this rollercoaster of a story in the infamous, legendary, most exciting place on earth - Loftus Athletic Complex at the University of Notre Dame in November 2019. One classic winter evening (approximately 10 degrees and in the middle of a snowstorm), the intrepid members of Chicken Tiki Mo Salah were slated to play an intramural soccer game. However, one member of the team had found herself under the weather. Against her father’s best wishes, Katherine (Katie Kate) Tracey forged ahead so the team could meet the minimum girl requirement placed by Notre Dame Rec Sports. As she was stretching in Loftus (KT: lying on the ground in fetal position) before the game, one of their teammates (KT: accurately) stated she “didn’t look so hot” and in swooped Jack McConnell with the famous line “I think she looks very nice.” Little did both Jack and Katie Kate know this was the beginning of a love story that stands the test of time (KT: I knew).

Fast forward about 18 months, Jack and Katie Kate found themselves moving into their senior year housing during the same week. It had already been determined that Jack, Katie Kate, and a group of their Notre Dame friends would spend a couple weeks in South Bend as a mini-reunion after being confined to Zoom and texts for the last 3 months. It was during this trip that Jack and Katie Kate really began to hit it off. Because she lived in a 4 bedroom townhouse nicer than most homes, Katie Kate’s apartment became the social hub for this group of soon to be Notre Dame seniors. After many nights of laughter, growler refills, and trips to Martins for Kraft Mac n Cheese Paw Patrol addition, Jack and Katie Kate started to realize they got along pretty well. However, as the fun summer in South Bend started to come to a close, the potential future of Jack and Katie Kate hung in the balance.

It was after everyone had left South Bend when Jack really started thinking about how great Katie Kate was (KT: To this day, I’m not sure what took him so long). In an attempt to continue the beginnings of that relationship, Jack decided to throw up a Hail Mary and text Katie Kate about what he should buy on his next trip to Martins (KT: *Target). And then began the texting. Both Katie Kate’s sisters and Jack’s brother began to notice that their respective sibling suddenly had a new contact that they were texting all of the time and talking about more than anyone else (though this may have only applied to Jack, you can ask Sean). However, after getting to know each other and bonding over the medical profession, soccer, Katie Kate’s chicken tender tour, and East Coast geography, both Katie Kate and Jack could not wait for the fall semester of their senior year to begin.

While it seems like all of the stars had aligned for these two star crossed lovers to begin dating as soon as the fall started, it wasn’t until the Duke football game where the antics (appropriately social distanced with masks of course), finally allowed Jack and Katie Kate to hang out again like they had in June. The following day, Jack asked Katie Kate over to his apartment to make tacos. Infamously, Jack had never made tacos by himself before, so he elicited the help of his roommate (Kyle Casey, groomsman) and the two did a practice run before she came over. After that night, the two really hit it off and the rest is history (KT: you should know our second date was at Dairy Queen and Jack was 1.5 hours late because he was playing pick up soccer, but we don’t hold that against him).

The rest of senior year, Jack and Katie Kate explored various parts of South Bend, stuck by each other when Jack got COVID, and travelled all the way to Kentland, IN for Don’s Drive-In AKA the world’s best chicken tenders. Even when these two had to go their separate ways after graduation, Jack knew that what they had was special and would last the test of time. Jack and Kate have done long distance the past (almost) 4 years… and have FaceTimed just about every night (KT: even when I fall asleep on the phone). They could tell you all the Delta flight numbers to and from Detroit and LaGuardia, and put in many hours of studying on planes, in different states, and on the phone.

Jack proposed on September 22, 2023 - back in the place that started it all (KT: Notre Dame, not to be confused with the Intramural FieldHouse Loftus) - and it was perfect. While the proposal is a story in itself, Jack was lucky enough to get the long desired yes from Katie Kate Tracey. They celebrated with friends and family and even though the Fighting Irish lost, the weekend was still their biggest win yet (KT: until April 26, 2025, of course). A lot has happened since these two 20-year-olds first got to know each other. However, 6 years later, they are so excited to start a life together as a married couple and to celebrate with all the people they love the most!