It began in a simple way.

After her first year at the University of Alabama, Bethany Patterson returned home to Olive Branch, Mississippi, for the summer. Looking to spend more time together, Patterson and her family revived an old tradition: watching "Wheel of Fortune" together.

This time around, the family watched the show every night it was on that summer.

While the rest of the family passively watched as contestants spun the show’s iconic wheel or told presenter Vanna White which letter to point to, Patterson and her father, Joel, became hooked on seeing who could decipher the puzzle the fastest.

"We would get very competitive watching it," said Bethany Patterson, a sophomore at UA studying marketing. "We would always see who could solve the puzzles first."

In fact, it was Bethany Patterson’s father who encouraged her to apply to compete on the show that very summer. On Friday, Bethany Patterson will be one of several college students from across the country who will compete on the show’s "College Week Spring Break."

A lifelong fan of game shows, Joel Patterson grew up watching shows like "The Price is Right" and "Wheel," which he believes is still relevant to younger generations.

"I think what makes it last is it’s a show where people from all walks of life have the opportunity to come on and win a prize," Joel Patterson said. "It’s just common people like you me."

As part of her audition, Bethany Patterson sent an online video to the show telling them about herself and why she wanted to be on the show. A little later, she was selected to go onto the second round of auditioning in Nashville.

By Christmas, she received a letter from producers telling her she had been accepted to compete on the show.

"It was crazy," she said. "I was just blown away."

Bethany Patterson prepared by watching different clips of the show on YouTube, looking for ways to gain an edge. Last week, Bethany Patterson and her father traveled by airplane to the show's studio in Culver City to compete, where they arrived last Thursday, taped on Friday and flew back home over the weekend.

Joel Patterson was in the audience as Bethany Patterson competed and spent the weekend with her visiting different places around Los Angeles.

"It was nice to be able to have several days with just her," Joel Patterson said.

Bethany Patterson said that as someone who had watched the show for years on TV, getting to see how the show was put together behind the scenes was a memorable experience, especially getting to meet White and longtime host Pat Sajak.

"They were both super nice and genuinely excited for us," she said.

Joel Patterson said that positivity resonated throughout the show.

"It was so cool," he said.

Bethany Patterson and her family will watch Friday’s "Wheel of Fortune" episode with friends in Tuscaloosa.

"Wheel of Fortune" will air at 6:30 p.m. Friday on ABC.

Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.