Alexandra Paige Moreo and Matthew Alexander Gutierrez went on their first date in April 2017, when they were sophomores at Syracuse University. But they had already been on many “unofficial dates,” as they now refer to them, while working together for the student newspaper.
They both covered sports for The Daily Orange, where Mr. Gutierrez was a reporter and editor, and Ms. Moreo a photographer and photo editor. On long drives to games, they got to know each other, first as colleagues and friends. Somewhere along the way, Ms. Moreo grew more interested.
“I definitely thought he was handsome,” said Ms. Moreo, 27, who goes by Ally. “He has these radiant blue eyes.”
On reporting trips, there was often a third person in the car with them. “I think every single third person knew I was into Matthew,” Ms. Moreo said. However, “I don’t think Matthew knew I was into Matthew.”
When a mutual friend told Mr. Gutierrez how Ms. Moreo felt, he started texting her more often. After covering morning practices for the Syracuse football team, they began to get breakfast together, chatting before classes. They had their first official date at Pastabilities, a restaurant in Syracuse.
“It was just a very flowing date conversation,” said Mr. Gutierrez, also 27. “There was no awkwardness or anyone trying to impress anyone.”
