When Ariana Light first met Michael Heldman, she was just trying to survive freshman year at Central Michigan University, 1,000 miles from her home in Florida. But fate and the university’s housing assignments had other plans.

Light, a gymnast specializing in beam, and Heldman, a defensive lineman for the football team, were placed as neighbors in Celani Hall.

“Quite honestly, the first time I ever remember meeting Mike was him moonwalking backward into my room with a cowboy hat on and some dress shoes and some Atlanta Falcons gear on,” Light, an interior design major, said. “I was sitting on the couch, and I was like, ‘Hey, what’s up?’”

Heldman, a communications major from Romeo, had a different first impression.

“I met her, and I’m like, ‘You are definitely not a blonde,’” Heldman said, making fun of Light’s bleached blonde hair. “Just her telling me straight up, ‘You have the ugliest haircut; you do not look good at all in this.’”

Despite their opposite personalities, the two became close friends. They supported each other through the ups and downs of freshman year, bonding over late-night conversations and sharing experiences as student-athletes.

But for Light, feelings shifted during the second semester, when Heldman excitedly burst into her dorm, announcing that he had gotten another girl’s phone number. Light, caught off guard by an unexpected wave of jealousy, stormed into her room and slammed the door. That’s when she realized she didn’t just see Heldman as a friend.

Zoey Morse

Central Michigan University senior gymnast Ariana Light (right) stands back to back with her fiancé Central Michigan University senior football player Michael Heldman (left) in Central Michigan Life office, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Heldman asked Light to be his girlfriend in a tree next to the Central Michigan University softball field almost three years ago.

"I was livid,” Light said. “And my roommate Leah just yelled through the door, ‘I told you so!’ That was my turning point. His was much, much later.”

Still, it would take another eight months before the pair officially started dating. Heldman, initially oblivious to Light’s feelings, spent the summer calling her almost daily. By the time football season started again in the fall, he began to realize he didn’t like seeing Light around other guys.

“After my first breakup, it was tough, and I always leaned on Ari,” Heldman said. “I started feeling jealous even when she started talking to a guy.”

After months of back-and-forth, the two finally had their defining moment under a tree near CMU’s softball field the summer before their sophomore year.

“During the summer, he took me on a drive one night,” Light said. “We went to this tree, and you can climb up in it. We just sat there and talked for, like, two hours.”

On Oct. 8, 2022, Heldman took Light back to that same tree and asked her to be his girlfriend.

“I was so excited,” Light said. “I came back to the dorms, and all my teammates came and hugged me. I just never had an interest in being in another relationship other than (with) him.”

Balancing love and athletics

With both of them competing at the Division I level, finding time for their relationship hasn’t always been easy. Heldman, a dedicated pass rusher for the Chippewas, and Light, who spends five hours a day training in the gym, have had to learn how to prioritize their relationship amid their demanding schedules.

“I’d be home waiting for him to come back from a game, and then the next semester, it was the opposite — he’d be home while I was traveling for gymnastics,” Light said. “At first, that was really tough.”

Jasmine Brookins

Central Michigan University senior Ariana Light celebrates sticking her beam landing in McGuirk Arena on Friday, Feb.14, 2025. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)

But over time, they found a rhythm. Light makes sure to attend as many of Heldman’s games as possible, often traveling to away games and proudly yelling from the stands. Heldman returns the favor by attending her meets, even when he has to pay to stream them online.

“She comes to almost every single game,” Heldman said. “So, of course, I have to support her, especially since this is her first and last season actually competing, after injuries kept her out for three years.”

Their bond has only strengthened through the years as they’ve learned to support each other in ways that go beyond just showing up, they said From cooking meals to keep Heldman fueled for football to simply being a listening ear, the couple has grown together — sometimes through trial and error.

“We definitely had a hard time at first,” Light said. “We had a lot of stupid fights, but as your love for a person grows more and more, you learn what is worth it and what is not.”

"Through all the ups and downs, I knew she would be the one,"

— Michael Heldman, Central Michigan University senior football defensive lineman

The proposal

This past summer, Light had no idea that a simple anniversary photo shoot would turn into one of the biggest moments of her life.

“I planned photos for our two-year anniversary because we don’t have any good photos,” Light said. “So, I picked out my dress, I matched my nails to my dress. I knew he was talking to a ring lady because I’m very picky.

“I just knew we are college kids, and we can’t really afford anything right now.”

What she didn’t know was that Heldman had already bought a ring, working with a jeweler to design the perfect one. His original plan was to propose in Florida during Christmas when their families would be together, but as soon as he had the ring, he knew he couldn’t wait.

“I knew this could be a woman who could be the mother of my children and a great wife,” Heldman said. “So, I was just ready to pull the trigger on this one. That’s when I realized I do love this woman. Through all the ups and downs, I knew she would be the one.”

During their trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Heldman found a quiet spot under a tree, the same way he had when he first asked Light to be his girlfriend. As she turned away for a moment, he got down on one knee, and when she turned back around, he was holding the ring.

“He was so nervous,” Light said. “He was trying not to stumble over his words, but I could tell he was nervous.”

“I was saying ‘I love you,’ like, 20 times,” Heldman said. “They say in communications, it’s really bad to repeat yourself, and I lost all morals with that.”

The wedding and the future

The couple will tie the knot on July 25 at Light’s family-owned wedding venue in Mountain City, Tennessee. The venue, nestled in the mountains, offers a peaceful setting for their big day.

“It’s going to be in the 60s, which is pretty good,” Light said. “We already have our color palate, our guests. I’m done wedding planning. I have my dress, we have our wedding party, most of my bridesmaids have already ordered their dresses and they’re beautiful.”

Heldman, on the other hand, has taken a hands-off approach.

“I just said yes to everything,” he said. “I never imagined my own wedding, but women always imagine their own and how they want it, and I knew that’s one of the things that she really wanted to do, so I let her take charge.”

Jasmine Brookins

Central Michigan University junior Defensive Lineman Michael Heldman runs over to celebrate with the band after defeating rival team Western Michigan University on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)

As they look to the future, the couple is preparing for Heldman’s final season at CMU before he declares for the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Light will finish school and take on a new role — one she’s been excited about for years.

“I’ll be a stay-at-home wife for a little while,” Light said. “And I’m perfectly happy with that.”

Despite the whirlwind of college life, sports, and planning a future together, the couple remains grounded in their faith and their friendship, which they credit as the foundation of their relationship.

“We were best friends before we were anything else,” Light said. “And that’s what has made our relationship so strong.”

Advice for college couples

For other college couples thinking about taking the next step, Light and Heldman have simple advice: communicate and never take each other for granted.

“Keep the romance alive,” Light said. “Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean you’re not deserving of having an adult relationship.”

For Heldman, the key is putting in effort, no matter how busy life gets.

“I think if you really love a woman, there’s a lot more you do than just hang out with her,” Heldman said. “Don’t leave arguments unresolved, and don’t be afraid to put in the effort — it’s always worth it.”