Balancing married life, school and basketball

LOGAN — On Christmas Eve 2020, Steven Ashworth pulled up to his house in a horse-drawn carriage where his then–girlfriend, Peyton Burr, was waiting. Ashworth had hatched a plot to surprise her, and he had a burning question to ask.

“I told her I couldn’t make it to Christmas Eve because we had practice and that I would see her on Christmas Day,” Ashworth said. “I played it off like I couldn’t go.”

He knocked on the door and asked Peyton if she would marry him. She said yes, and the newly engaged couple celebrated with a carriage ride.

Submitted photo.

The two met in high school, attending Lone Peak in Highland. Steven, a sophomore at the time while Peyton was a junior, was scouting for love among his peers.

“I had just moved from Vegas, and he was asking the cheerleaders if there were any new girls he could go out with — he was the ripe age of 15,” Peyton said, laughing. “They introduced me to him, and he would text me all the time.”

Steven, who turns 23 this May, is in the middle of his junior season at Utah State and has statistically been one of the best players for the Aggies this season. He averages 15.3 points a game, 4.7 assists and 0.8 steals, all the highest averages on the team, while shooting nearly 48% from three and 47% from the field.

What makes this sharpshooter a talented player? Well, Steven credits his wife.

“She is the most important person in the world. She makes my world go round. She is helpful at the house and on the court, and she will even come and rebound for me,” Steven said. “She will even do as much research as she can to help me on the basketball floor.”

Peyton said even though she loves watching her husband play, it causes her stress.

“Mostly very happy and proud when I watch him, but during the games, I am so stressed — and way more stressed than he is, but it is so fun to watch him,” Peyton said. “I love going to the games, and it is one of my favorite hobbies.”

Steven has been playing so well for the Aggies, the student section even gave him a new nickname, “Splashworth.” Peyton said she will be the only person who does not call him that.

“She hasn’t adopted that yet, but might do it as a joke,” Steven said.

“I am very impressed. He is the perfect person to juggle all of this stuff. He’s motivated, confident, schedules out his time — he is just a great student, athlete and husband,” Peyton said.

But even a balanced life brings time away. When Steven goes on the road with the team, Peyton has to stay back.

“It’s usually about a week when I am gone with the team. A lot of FaceTime calls and texts. All of our family is down south, so there are a lot of check–ins, and we do a good job of navigating that,” Steven said. “Communicating is a huge part of that and keeping that love that we have had since high school.”

Peyton said even though they are both busy, the couple’s communication is “constant.”

“We are always texting, and he makes sure to FaceTime me, which probably bugs Rylan Jones, who is his roommate on the trip,” Peyton said, laughing. “He leaves me notes when he leaves for the road, which is super thoughtful.”

“Rylan is a great roommate, but nowhere near close to the roommate Peyton is,” Steven said, laughing.

Utah State head coach Ryan Odom also praised Steven for balancing his life so well.

“He is the best at all three — being a husband, student and athlete. I came in the day of a game early in the morning, and I heard the balls bouncing and I looked down the tunnel, and there was Steven, just getting ready for the game,” Odom said. “He is committed to being the best that he can be. He is committed to being the best husband, taking care of his family and being a great son and brother. Really committed to his family.”

Steven and Peyton’s story hasn’t always been perfect. The two had to spend a school year long–distance, then two more years during their missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints.

“She went to college my senior year, but we still dated. I didn’t know if she would find bigger fish down at BYU, but after a year of that, we both went on missions and went at the same time,” Steven said. “I served in Indiana, and she served in Paraguay. We both got back and knew it was still right. After about eight months of being home from our missions, we got married.”

Now, the pair continue to grow their relationship. The two will celebrate their second anniversary together this coming May.

On the road, Steven is reminded how grateful he is for his wife.

“Have fun when we’re supposed to have fun, and be serious when we’re supposed to be serious,” Steven said. “Every single road trip, I remember more and more why I love her so much and want to be with her and wish she could be on every road trip.”

Peyton is equally complimentary of her husband.

“He is definitely confident, social. He is a go–getter and has such big goals. He is so motivating for me,” Peyton said.

Odom said Steven is the type of player and person “we want at Utah State.”

“It helps that he is that good of a player and made himself into that. He may not have the physical size, but he plays big on the court. He has that confidence in himself,” Odom said.

Catch Steven on the court on Wednesday when the Aggies host San Diego State at 8 p.m.

Featured image by Elise Gottling.