Mike and Ashley first met online, and their first date was set halfway between their homes, an hour apart, at a bowling alley Mike had never been to. When Ashley pulled up in her nice Lexus and Mike noticed the slightly grungy surroundings, he got a little nervous. Fresh off a fishing trip, Mike brought along a cooler full of yellowfin and bluefin tuna, knowing Ashley loved sushi. He gifted it to her on the spot along with an ambitious list of poke and sushi recipes. Intimidated, Ashley tucked the tuna into her freezer where it stayed untouched, something Mike still gives her a loving hard time about to this day. Ashley is also famously competitive, and Mike unknowingly won the bowling they played that night. She was a great sport about it, which she continues to be to this day, although uniquely so when playing against Mike.

As their relationship grew, Mike eventually learned that Ashley had recently downloaded Hinge when they met, and she had a unique approach to online dating since she and her family are so close. She would bring her phone to Sunday dinner with her parents, connect it to the TV, and swipe through profiles as a family. They all remember Mike’s picture holding a big tuna as the one that stood out. It is a memory that still makes everyone laugh and a story that perfectly captures the start of something real.

From that very first date, Mike and Ashley dated with intention. With so many big topics covered right away, it sometimes felt less like a first date and more like a friendly interrogation, but in between the questions were plenty of smiles and long moments of eye contact that made it clear something special was happening. They quickly discovered how many of their core values and priorities were already aligned, things that often take couples years to work through. Beyond that, all the little things seemed to line up too, and still do to this day, whether it is the simplest food preferences or random details of daily life. They often find themselves in sync to an almost uncanny level. That foundation made it clear to both of them early on that this relationship was different and something worth building a future on together.

Their relationship has been full of adventure. From exploring Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, California, Hawaii, and Idaho, to weekends spent hiking, camping, and fishing, the outdoors has been at the center of their time together. Their biggest adventure of all, though, began with the birth of their daughter, Sophia Marie Thompson. They can’t wait to share the things they love with her, starting with her first bull elk hunt in November 2025!

On June 29, 2024, Mike pulled off the surprise of a lifetime. He coordinated a weekend getaway with Ashley and her parents at their family cabin outside of Flagstaff. During a side-by-side ride to Schnebly Hill, an overlook above Sedona that holds special meaning for Mike from past bowhunting trips and is also a favorite Krolak family off-roading spot, he got down on one knee. With the sweeping Sedona views behind them and Ashley’s parents looking on, Mike asked Ashley to marry him. She had absolutely no idea it was coming, and of course, she said yes!

Now, as they prepare for their wedding, Mike and Ashley are most excited to celebrate surrounded by their closest family and friends, and to begin the next chapter of their story together as husband and wife.