#QuestForCondie: A match made on Twitter
It’s been called the “greatest love story of 2016” — “the best thing ever” — “a night to remember.”
#QuestForCondie began when @USUCompliments tweeted on March 17, “Boys: do you like sports? Do you like cute girls? Look no further. @taycondie is your girl. #USUCompliments.” Senior Taylor Condie said her night was made. But it didn’t stop there.
Senior Zach Green, known as @zach07green on Twitter, saw the tweet and said something about it “spoke to (him).”
“I was like, ‘Hmm. I like cute girls and I like sports.’ So followed her, not knowing who she was,” Green said.
It was Wednesday night — True Aggie Night — that Condie posted a Twitter poll. It read, “I’m about to graduate and I’m not a True Aggie. How this happened, I honestly don’t know. Should I go tonight?” The poll received 53 votes — 68 percent voted “yes,” 6 percent voted “no” and 26 percent voted “I volunteer as tribute.”
“I was like, ‘Oh, heck yeah. Of course I’m going to volunteer as tribute,’” Green said. “Just to try to get myself a leg up from the other tribute voters, I let her know it was my birthday. And I guess it worked.”
Green was tweeting from his home at the ATO house, where his brothers encouraged him. Green and Condie agreed to meet at midnight — Green said “I’ll meet you there #QuestForCondie,” and the hashtag was born.
“I was like, ‘Guys, what do I do? Is this real life?’” Green said.
Friends live-tweeted for the next two hours. Both parties brushed their teeth. Green applied Burt’s Bees lip balm and buttoned up his nicest flannel. Senior Nick Clason witnessed the excitement at the ATO house, and he joined his brothers in supporting Green at True Aggie Night. By that time, Green said everybody was involved and wanted to see what would happen.
“If it were a movie, I wouldn’t call it a pure romantic movie. It would be more of a romantic comedy because of the hilarity of the situation,” Clason said. “I thought it was a hilarious story with a great ending, obviously.”
About nine of Green’s friends tagged along, but many more were following the story on social media, using the hashtag #QuestForCondie. The excitement extended from Cache Valley to Oregon, Salt Lake City, Provo and Manti.
“When I showed up, there was a lot of cheering from everyone, especially his friends. Everyone was shouting, ‘Quest for Condie,'” she said. “I don’t like to be in the spotlight at all, but it was hilarious.”
Green and Condie found each other, and she said they kissed on the A block for five seconds.
“I would definitely say that I have the best True Aggie story ever. Easily,” Condie said.
Clayson said social media is a good way to find someone for True Aggie Night.
The @USUCompliments account is currently managed by two people. One of the administrators of the account said they had no idea the original tweet would have such an impact.
“I know Taylor pretty well, and thought I’d give her a compliment, but I didn’t really know if anything would come of it. I’m not @USUMatchmaker so I didn’t expect to set anything like this up!” they wrote in a private Twitter message.
They said they have tried setting up friends before, with no success. While the account is mostly a platform to recognize people for their kindness and accomplishments, this may the be first of many “arrangements.”
The administrator sent good luck to Zach and said to “treat her right.”
“And to Taylor, I’d say you’re welcome, and keep being awesome,” they wrote.
Condie and Green have a date planned for this evening.
“I’m excited. I have no idea where it’s going to go,” Condie said.
Green echoed her sentiment.
“I don’t know. I mean, I’ve got her number. We’ll see. We’ll see.”
— brennakelly818@gmail.com
@bckelly8