Junior business administration and soccer student-athlete Jake Saffer is practically Superman. He expertly balances the demands of his classes and homework while showcasing his skills on the soccer field through games and practices. Despite his busy schedule, Saffer maintains a strong relationship with his wife, Ava (Hagenbach) Saffer, an English graduate student.

GYRAD 

Get Your Roommate a Date (GYRAD)  is a beloved Biola tradition that has fostered many successful relationships. On Dec. 9, 2022, the annual event hosted by Alpha Hall led to something far beyond a mini-golf date. Junior business administration and soccer student-athlete Jake Saffer met his wife, an English graduate student, Ava Hagenbach. GYRAD sparked this relationship and eventually led to a ring-by-spring success story. 

Saffer commented on how “GYRAD is just one of those things where it’s like… you get to go on a date, but you know, a marriage ended up stemming from it. It’s just hilarious,” 

MATCHMAKER ROOMMATE 

Ava’s former roommate, senior Liberal Studies elementary education student Sabrina Obnamia, helped arrange the two’s meeting. Obnamia predicted that after the first date, the two would hit it off. 

“Even though he was an athlete with this extremely busy schedule, she was never second,” said Obnamia. 

Saffer is not only a dedicated athlete but also dedicated to his then-girlfriend. He always put his wife above all things. 

“My marriage comes before my athletics,” Saffer stated. 

A RELATIONSHIP ROOTED IN FAITH

Throughout their relationship, the couple turned to God and felt support from Biola’s strong community of believers. With the support of their parents, they felt confident in taking the next step in their relationship.

After a year and a half of dating, Saffer proposed during a hike. The two thank their parents for supporting them in this next step. 

 Ava Saffer suggested they should get married that summer as a joke. But one thing led to another, and the two legitimately started planning for summer. 

“I had to lean on God for guidance because that was a big decision,” Hagenbach said.

After five months of planning with the help of Hagenbach’s mom, the couple married on July 12, 2024. 

NEW RESPONSIBILITIES 

With marriage comes new responsibilities. Now, Jake Saffer’s plate is filled with helping around the house, classes, homework, and practice. A high degree of responsibilities that Saffer didn’t have previously in these past two years at Biola. 

“I wanted to get married for those reasons: to spend more time with Ava and be in a closer relationship with her,” said Jake Saffer.

As Jake Saffer navigates his busy life as a student-athlete, he’s also embracing the new challenges and rewards that come with marriage.

“With marriage, you’re tackling just a new set of responsibilities,” said Saffer. “And there’s obviously a lot of benefits to that, and there’s a lot of great things that come from marriage. But there’s also a responsibility aspect.”

With maintaining the two’s busy schedules, Ava Saffer considers Sundays to be date days. 

“I think that always helps me when … we spend [time] together,” said Saffer. 

WAG ERA

Ava Saffer is embracing her WAG era (wife of an athlete). 

“She’s always sitting with my family,” said Jake Saffer. “It definitely brings a smile to my face just seeing her joyfully going to every game.”

During the soccer season, before Jake Saffer’s games, Ava Saffer wakes up early to help him get ready.

“I always enjoy waking up (at the) same time as someone else,” said Ava Saffer. “I would help, like, make a coffee and get stuff for him so that he could go early to start his day and just have a better start.”

Ava Saffer is a constant source of support for Jake, and together, they lean on each other through the challenges of their busy lives.

SUPERMAN OF SAFFER 

Jake Saffer had the practice of what it meant to be a teammate. 

“Jake learns what it means to be a teammate on his team. So he was the teammate for Ava,” Obnamia said.

“I think a lot of principles that I take from soccer, and I’m able to kind of implement it in my marriage, like what it means to be a good teammate, how to win and lose properly,” said Saffer.

Wins and losses occur in a marriage, and it’s about learning how to deal with and work together well with your teammate. Marriage has its ups and downs, but having the solid foundation of Christ to lean on in a relationship helps the Saffers stay strong. 

From a mini-golf date at GYRAD to a “ring-by-spring” proposal, Jake and Ava Saffer’s love story is proof that sometimes, the best things come from the most unexpected places. What started as a fun tradition at Biola blossomed into a lifelong partnership. As they balance soccer games, schoolwork, and marriage, the Saffer’s show that with faith and support, one can turn a tradition into a forever kind of love.