Nick Goepper picks ‘Dream Date’ (Video)

Valentine’s Day is over, but a special Valentine’s date is still in the works.

Monday Olympic Bronze Medalist Nick Goepper, a Lawrenceburg, Indiana native, announced which girl tweeted their way into his heart in a Twitter competition using the hashtag #IWantToDateNick.

“I thought it would be super cool to meet a new friend and go on a date,” said Goepper after learning Rogers of Tallmadge had won the contest.

Out of thousands of entries, he picked her.

“She had an amazing video,” said Goepper. “The lyrics were funny, witty and sweet. She had that little thing at the end and said some funny stuff. I was smiling a lot.”
Goepper said he found Roger’s video to be “super original and creative.”
“She did a great job,” he said.

Her video has received more than 11,600 views on YouTube.com.

Goepper also featured sections of Rogers’ video in an interview on NBC.com with Jeremy Bloom, a former skier now working as an analyst for NBC.

Goepper said it was his and Bloom’s idea to feature Rogers’ video during the interview segment.

“That was one of the entries that stood out to us as one of the best,” Goepper said. “We decided to play that one a bunch.”

Rogers, 21, a senior at Kent State University majoring in zoology, learned the news while on the phone with friend Dana Fleming also of Tallmadge.

“She saw the tweet and immediately started screaming before I knew what was going on,” Rogers said.

Rogers said she was speechless.

“I must have said ‘what’ 17 times before I could even move or breathe or do anything,” Rogers said. “I was just incredibly excited. Seeing a picture of the two of us Photoshopped together was surreal. It was hilarious.”

Goepper said he will call Rogers to plan their date. He hopes the date will take place in the next few weeks in either Los Angeles or New York City.

“We looked at every single thing that came in,” said Sheryl Shade, spokeswoman for Goepper. “I am blown away by the creativity of all of these young women around the country. That was really something.”

Shade said Goepper thought Rogers’ was like the girl next door.

“She wasn’t trying too hard,” Shade said. “It was just very sweet.”

Rogers said that is what she was hoping that he would see, “a normal, laid-back girl that he would be comfortable to be around.”

“Maybe someone that he would see himself being friends with if this contest had never happened,” Rogers said.

Goepper said he is excited to meet Rogers.

“I’m super excited to go out on a date and get to know her,” he said. “I want her to teach me a few guitar cords because I don’t know how to play and maybe some singing lessons too.”

Agencies/Canadajournal