BELMONT, N.C. – Aubrey Lloyd and Gabe Scott were key members of Belmont Abbey College men’s and women’s bowling teams. Like their teammates, they logged extra rounds of practice in preparation for this year’s Conference Carolinas Championships. They also checked off one other box on their to-do list.

They got married.

A mere 10 days before the men’s and women’s conference tournament, the young couple took their vows and walked down the aisles at a March 10 wedding at the Double J Farm in nearby Lenoir, North Carolina.

As tempting as it might have been, there was no signs of a bowling theme at the nuptials–no bowling balls or pins as decorations–-although several members of the Belmont Abbey team were in attendance and Gabe’s Crusader teammates Hunter Hawley (2025 graduate) and Tyler Michel (senior roommate) served as groomsmen.

“Gabe and I met at Belmont Abbey, built a life there, did college together and wanted to celebrate with all our friends here,” explained Aubrey, who was named to the all-tournament team after leading Belmont Abbey’s women’s bowlers to their third straight Conference Carolina title in March.

Beyond being one of the school’s most highly anticipated social events in recent years, the Lloyd-Scott union featured many unique layers leading up to the wedding. Let’s start at the very beginning of the relationship.

Aubrey, 22, hails from Egg Harbor Township, N.J., which is located 10 miles west of Atlantic City. As a high school senior, she competed at the prestigious Junior Gold Bowling Tournament in Indianapolis, where Belmont Abbey Coach Rich Gucwa was scouting.

Soon thereafter, Lloyd committed to Belmont Abbey. Little did she know that fate would introduce her to a future husband.

“Gabe was first planning to take a gap year,” explained Aubrey. “But his father died. Then he changed his mind and decided to attend Belmont Abbey.”
It was a stroke of serendipity. Prior to their enrollment, she and Gabe first met on a group chat of incoming bowlers and immediately bonded. They first met in person on move-in day on campus.

“I was going to the dining hall, and he was visiting with Coach Gucwa at the outside entrance,” Aubrey recalls. “Coach introduced him as ‘Ryan,’ which is his middle name. I recognized him and immediately corrected him. ‘No, your name’s Gabe!’”

At that point, Gabe sensed that Aubrey was different from other women he had met. He readily admits that he immediately was smitten.

“In my opinion, it just confirmed what I was already thinking,” he said. “I normally really struggle talking to people. But I never had an issue talking to her, even at the beginning. I just felt comfortable. It was easy.”

After that first meeting, the future couple learned that they would be taking a psychology class from the same professor but at different times.

“He would catch me after my (morning) class and ask, ‘what are we learning today?’” Aubrey said with a smile. “I don’t think he really cared about the class. It was just an excuse to talk with me.”

Before long, a foundation of friendship began to form. In many ways, they were an example of opposites attracting.

“I’m very extroverted while he is introverted,” Aubrey said. “I’m from the Jersey shore, he’s from a small mountain town (Tazewell, Virginia). He had a high school graduating class of 65, mine was 670.”

She said Gabe began teasing her about her New Jersey accent.

“He would make fun of the way I said ‘sauce’ or ‘exhausted.’ He won’t leave me alone.”

Soon, the two freshmen became inseparable. They studied together for the psychology class. They always ate dinner together.

Occasionally the men’s and women’s bowling teams would travel by bus together to tournaments, but Coach Gucwa insisted on keeping the teams separate.

“Girls sat in the front, boys in the back,” Aubrey shared. “He trusts us, but we are still young college students.”

That same policy was implemented for their two-hour weekday practices, as the men and women bowled at the same alley but on different lanes. Consequently, Gabe and Aubrey’s friendship blossomed when he caught rides from Aubrey to those daily practices, delving into serious conversations during the 20-minute ride to and from practices.

Surprisingly, it was their head coach who urged them to become better acquainted during their freshmen years.

“Coach always told me to talk to Gabe,” Aubrey said. “He said we would be either amazing together or probably destroy each other. He knew there was something there.”
              
While they are opposites in many ways, they came together at a pivotal time for each of them. Gabe, an only child, lost his father when he was 17 and only three months before graduating high school. Aubrey arrived at Belmont Abbey fresh off an emotional break-up with her high school boyfriend.

“I know she was struggling with it, being so far away from home and going through a breakup,” said Gabe. “Once we started hanging out together, we became each other’s rock.”

Eventually the dynamic bowling duo began dating. And Aubrey clearly remembers when they truly became a couple.

“We just got back from the Bowlero Southern Collegiate Classic in Marietta, Georgia. The bus dropped us off at our Sacred Heart campus around 1 a.m. Gabe and I got in our car. Everyone left for home, but we just stayed there talking.”

And now the sweet part.

“He asked me to be his girlfriend. We just decided there was no sense being secretive. If anyone had a problem, that was their problem, not ours.”

Then Aubrey, the ultimate extrovert, sprang into action. She made it crystal clear what her intentions were.

“I drew a timeline. I wanted to be engaged sometime between the end of sophomore year or early junior year, and to be married in our senior year before graduation. I drew up an agreement paper and he signed it.”

Was she at least half kidding when she proclaimed her demands to him? “I was fully serious,” she said.

One might think such an unexpected exchange might prove intimidating.

“Well, I am typically intimidating,” Aubrey smiled. “You may not like it but I’m very much myself. I knew that Gabe valued that part of me. I said what I meant because that’s what I wanted.”

When Gabe was asked whether he was, indeed, a bit intimidated by Aubrey’s directness, he just shrugged his shoulders.

“In any other circumstance, it would be intimidating. But instead of fear, it felt relaxing to me. It just felt right, not forced. It felt easy and normal.”

But if you think this “marriage contract” was the highlight of this story, think again. Gabe’s proposal was beyond magical.

Knowing that the Magic Kingdom is one of her favorite places on earth, Gabe decided to surprise Aubrey by driving to Orlando and asking for her hand in marriage at the Polynesian Resort during the Magic Kingdom fireworks, over the Seven Seas Lagoon.

First, he asked her father for permission and shared his plans with her family.

“Gabe was already close to my family. They really wanted him to be part of the family. ‘When is he going to ask you?’ they kept saying. ‘We want him!’”

On the first weekend of their junior years, Gabe informed her of plans for a mystery road trip.

“He said, ‘I have a surprise for you,” she said. “Pack some stuff. He had already gone into my room and packed for me!”

So, they piled into Gabe’s 2002 Chevy Cavalier with 70,000 miles on it and drove eight hours to Orlando.

“When we got on the property, he asked me, ‘Do you know where we are?’ Oh my gosh. We pulled up to the hotel. We went to the park on both Friday and Saturday.”

Gabe also informed her that they had a dinner reservation at the Caribbean resort. He pulled out a dress and said they needed to change clothes. They had a wonderful meal, with more fireworks to come!

“He asked whether I wanted to see the fireworks and I said yeah, sure,” Aubrey recalls. “So, when the music starts playing (at the restaurant), he gets on one knee and brings out the ring.”

Understandably, she was speechless.

“Complete and utter shock. I thought there was no way he would make this happen. I couldn’t believe that it was real. I was so excited. First, I thought he was just messing with me. He sure fooled me.”

So, what was her response?

“I said yes immediately!”

They spent 30 minutes with a photographer in various poses around the resort. Then she called her parents, friends and Coach Gucwa.

“Gabe had already told them of his plans. I was so proud of them. When I talked to coach, he just said, ‘Yeah, I know. I’ve known about this.’”

What Gabe remembers most fondly is their return trip to campus.

“Driving home from Orlando was naturally very nice. We spent the first part of the trip just laughing and talking. Then she fell asleep. I was on such an emotional high. It was just so relaxing, heartwarming and euphoric.”

Besides their coach, the newlyweds said they appreciate the support they have received from their respective teammates. They realized very quickly that this was not just another relationship and gave the couple the respect and space to flourish.

Both graduated on May 16, Gabe with a degree in psychology (why, of course) and Aubrey with an elementary education major and psychology minor.

Upon graduation, they plan to move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. and live together for the first time. Aubrey has been a residential assistant at one of the dormitories, requiring her to live on site.

Aubrey is currently completing applications for teaching positions in elementary schools in Myrtle Beach, while Gabe plans to attend pharmaceutical school, most likely taking online courses at the University of South Carolina or Coastal Carolina University.

“I’ve worked in a pharmacy since I was 16 years old,” Gabe said. “I’ve got a photographic memory, so the medications are stuck in my brain.”

But there are post-scripts to their next life chapters.

Aubrey will return to Disney World this summer, this time as an employee. She will reported to work on May 18.

“Gabe urged me to apply because he knew it was always something I wanted to do. Technically it’s an internship.”

Bowling continues to play a major role in Aubrey’s husband’s life. Recently he spurred the Crusader men to their fourth straight Conference Carolina championship. He bowled a team-high 252 in leading Belmont Abbey to a 1013-947 title-clinching victory over Emmanuel.
              
The Belmont Abbey graduate plans to test the waters of a Pro Bowlers Association career, playing in some regional PBA events.

“I just want to get my feet out there,” he said. “The qualifying average is 200 in the league, and I’ve been past that since I was 14. If I can finish in the top eight or 10, you move on to bigger national events.”

He recognizes that the more success he has on the PBA tour, the more traveling is involved. It would take him away from home for periods of time.

“There are tournaments in Las Vegas and other U.S. cities, plus overseas in places like Sweden and Japan,” he said. “I know it will be a challenge for family life. Aubrey and I have already talked about it. We’re confident we can handle it. Our communication level is so strong.”

The husband-and-wife team believe that their experience at Belmont Abbey has prepared them for a full and rewarding life in the future.

“I would not be the person I am today without attending Belmont Abbey,” gushes Aubrey. “I learned so much in sports and life. I’m so thankful to Coach. He pushed me to be the best person I can be. I’m going to be a very proud BAC alum for the rest of my life, that’s for sure.”

And looking back at his four years at Belmont Abbey–a period in which he graduated, got married, won four conference championships and qualified for nationals–Gabe just shakes his head.

“It’s like a movie. At this point, the script writes itself.”

Bob Rose is a longtime sports public relations executive who has worked for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, the NFL Cardinals, Cal, Stanford and other organizations. Bob works with the Conference Carolinas office to help tell the stories of the tremendous student-athletes, coaches and administrators in Conference Carolinas.