ELON, N.C. — It's a love story more than a decade in the making. It all started at Elon University. RJ and Kara Pearsall both played sports for the Phoenix.
Kara was a soccer player. RJ was a football player. They were both freshmen in 2013.
“Being that we were both fall sport athletes we were up on campus like weeks before anybody else and we would see each other in the dining halls," Kara Pearsall said. "We were kind of friends at first.”
Their friendship grew.
"It’s definitely easier because we both understand what it’s like, the demand, the time the lack of structure to our days," Kara Pearsall said.
They started dating in December of their freshman year.
"It was really just being able to bond through both having that passion, that drive to win and be competitive, like we’re still really competitive, like anything we do it’s a competition," Kara Pearsall said.
Five years later, RJ Pearsall proposed and they became the Pearsalls in March of 2020.
"He’s my best friend first, like if I get really mad at something or really excited about something, I want to loop him in, yes because he’s my husband, but also because he’s my best friend," Kara Pearsall said.
After almost four years of married life with just the two of them, they welcomed their first child, Rome, back in December.
"We’ve definitely loved going through that phase and joining the parent club together, and watching each other thrive, and grow, and be there to support each other when she screams for four hours straight," Kara Pearsall shared.
Despite the sleepless nights in the newborn stage, it is safe to say they're both glad they played sports at Elon.
"What if one of us didn’t happen to say yes to playing our sport there? Kara Pearsall said. "It's really cool to see it come full circle."
Their love story now continues to grow and blossom in Wilmington.