‘The Best’: Stephen Nedoroscik Says as Emotional Teammate Pens Heartfelt Note Post 'Dancing With the Stars' End
Stephen Nedoroscik, the Olympic gymnast whose athletic prowess once captivated us on the world stage, never imagined he would find himself on the dance floor, let alone on the cusp of the semifinals of *Dancing with the Stars*. Yet here we are, watching eagerly as he and his partner, Rylee Arnold, continue their journey towards the coveted mirrorball trophy. Their path to the semifinals was confirmed during the show’s monumental 500th episode, following a string of memorable performances, including a dazzling Viennese Waltz to Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” during their Halloween special. Judges—and viewers alike—were thoroughly impressed, with Bruno Tonioli exclaiming that Stephen was “growing up in front of our eyes” thanks to his emotional connection with the music.
Despite Bruno’s score of 9, they wrapped up the round with a near-perfect 29, thanks to two perfect 10s from Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough. Their second performance that night, an instant jive to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Love is Embarrassing,” added another 25 points to their total score of 54—and solidified their position as a couple to watch. But beyond the dance floor, Stephen and Rylee’s camaraderie has only continued to flourish, with the duo recently sharing time off-stage on a double date.
Before diving into that romantic adventure, Stephen offered a candid take on meeting Rylee’s boyfriend—and things were definitely off to an awkward start! In an interview with *Access Hollywood*, Stephen shared his first impression of Rylee’s new boyfriend, Walker Lyons. “He walked in while we were practicing, and I was like, ‘Oh shoot, this is weird. I’m dancing, and here comes this guy.’ But honestly, he seemed like such a nice guy—polite and sweet from the start.” Walker’s gentlemanly behavior, such as holding the door open, immediately left a positive impression on Stephen. Rylee playfully chimed in, saying, “I got the stamp of approval on that one!”
The conversation then shifted to Rylee’s nerves—or lack thereof—about introducing Walker to Stephen. “No,” Rylee confidently responded. “I knew that Stephen was going to like him, and I knew Walker was going to love Stephen because they’re both just genuinely happy, nice guys.” And it turns out, Rylee has been looking up to Stephen and his long-time girlfriend, Tess McCracken, for relationship advice. “I’ve asked almost everyone about relationship advice, but I honestly look up to Stephen and Tess so much because they’ve been together for so long,” Rylee explained. “They’re one of those couples where you can just feel the love. They’ve been together for nearly a decade without a major argument—that’s the kind of relationship I aspire to have.”
Stephen and Tess’s love story has remained steadfast ever since their college days, and Rylee, who had been keeping her own relationship under wraps, surprised fans with her dating announcement back in September. Her boyfriend, Walker, is a USC football player—and the pair officially confirmed their relationship on October 27 with a sweet Instagram post. So, what happened on this double date involving these two happy couples?
Yep, Stephen and Rylee went on a double date! On November 9, Rylee gave fans a sneak peek of their night out via her Instagram story. She and Walker, along with Stephen and Tess, headed to the Los Angeles premiere of *Wicked*. The clip captured Rylee riding in the front seat with Walker behind the wheel, while Stephen and Tess relaxed in the backseat, all set for a glamorous evening.
The premiere, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA, offered them an exciting escape before diving back into their rigorous rehearsal schedules. Rylee was especially thrilled about walking her first red carpet alongside Walker. “Hopefully, we make it in time for the carpet!” she joked, her excitement palpable. Meanwhile, Walker couldn’t hold back his admiration, constantly gushing about how amazing Rylee looked.
And it wasn’t just Rylee who got Stephen’s big-brother-like approval—Walker also had nothing but praise for Stephen and Tess. The four of them enjoyed a night full of laughter, fun, and much-needed relaxation, stepping away from the stress of competition for a little while and basking in the happiness of the occasion.
