Originally, Grand Valley State University seniors Tony Carreri and Kara Crawford came to campus to play football and women’s basketball for the Lakers, but their individual decisions to play co-ed intramural softball changed their lives forever.

Carrari, a senior tight end on the football team, and Crawford, a senior forward on the women’s basketball team, first met on a softball field in 2008 while playing on a team with mutual friends.

After a few years of getting to know each other, it became apparent that their competitive yet caring nature was a compliment to who they are as individuals and as a couple, so Carreri decided to propose.

“The big thing for me was I wanted it to be surprise. I didn’t want her to see it coming, [and] I didn’t want her to expect it,” he said. “It wasn’t going to be a Friday night, awkward real nice dinner, rings in the dessert type deal.”

For two people who have a shared appreciation for athletics, it was fitting that Carreri decided to incorporate sports into the proposal. Last fall, he arranged for Crawford’s parents and grandmother to come Allendale for a GVSU football game, where he had plans to drop down on one knee, outside of Lubbers stadium at the conclusion of his game.

Crawford didn’t suspect a thing.

As the couple prepares for their wedding in July, they were quick to point out that the GVSU Athletics has played a vital role in their relationship and their ability to understand each other.

“Neither of us would’ve been at Grand Valley if it wasn’t for our respective sports,” Carreri said.

Carreri and Crawford said sports are just a part of who they are, and competing for GVSU has helped create a mutual understanding for their commitment toward sports and other things that are important to them.

Carreri’s brother, Nick, said common personality traits such as being outgoing, responsible and having the ability to relate to each other are a few qualities that have helped shape their relationship.

The ability to relate to each other was especially evident when both athletes were trying to recover from knee injuries, Carreri’s in 2009 and Crawford’s in 2010.

“When each of them was injured, the other knew what to do and what they were going through,” Nick Carreri said. “The best person they could turn to was the person they were with the most, so I think that really helped because they didn’t need anyone else, they could just turn to each other. “

As seniors this season, they both bring experience, leadership and passion to their respective teams. They also hope to teach younger teammates how to carry on the tradition that comes along with Laker athletics.

“Tony and I are thankful for our experiences at Grand Valley that we’ve had with our sports teams,” Crawford said. “It’s kind of a tight-knit community and I think if Grand Valley wasn’t so neat in that way we never would’ve met.”

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