Brentwood’s Bauers enjoy sports legacy

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 2, 2018 | 11:00 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

By day, Bob and Cindy Bauer are full-time employees.

Bob is an associate buying director for MARC USA; Cindy works in the Central IT Department at Pitt.

In their free time, the Bauers provide an invaluable service in the Brentwood community.

Both have been active members of the Bentwood High Athletic Boosters since 2012, and Bob has served as president for the past four years.

They also raised four distinguished student-athletes at their long-time Tyrol Drive residence.

“Both Cindy and I have always been big sports fans,” Bob said. “We always wanted to keep our children active and started them in sports and other activities at a young age. Brentwood is a great community to raise children. We spent long days and evenings in the summer at Brentwood Park, going from soccer to baseball games for each of the kids.

“In the fall and winter, we had them playing baseball and basketball. Each was involved in multiple sports growing up. It is when they were young that I started coaching baseball, everything from tee-ball to travel baseball.”

Bob and Cindy are 1982 high school graduates. While Bob attended Brentwood, Cindy, who grew up in Brookline, went to nearby St. Francis Academy. They were married in 1991 and are proud parents of Cory, 24; Justin, 23; Sydney, 21; and Luke, 16.

“We love following all of the kids, not just our own,” Bob said, “watching them succeed not only as student-athletes but also in the classroom. We enjoy following them after high school, as well. We have met so many great friends and families along the way by being involved with the boosters.”

Cory Bauer attends Pitt grad school. He is studying physical therapy and is scheduled to graduate in April.

He was an outfielder for Washington & Jefferson from 2012-15 and made three NCAA Division III playoff appearances.

At Brentwood, he was a four-year athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He was an all-conference selection three times in football and was named all-state once. He also was an all-section baseball player.

“The plan after graduating is to get a job, ideally in the outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine settings,” he said. “Playing three sports in high school and one in college left me with some of my fondest memories, but the process was also taxing and led to numerous injuries. So, as a student-athlete, I became very familiar with the rehabilitation process and the importance it had on my recovery.

“Now interning as a student physical therapist, I feel as though I have the unique ability to connect with current student-athletes about their experiences and the associated ailments that are endured throughout the duration of a long sports season. By being able to work in these settings, I see this as my away of giving back to current student-athletes and allowing them to return to playing the sport they love.”

The oldest of the Bauer siblings was presented with the Mark Reider Award at Brentwood and was the recipient of the male scholar-athlete award. Cory also was lauded as most outstanding team member in football and baseball.

“My coaches were some of the greatest people I've had the opportunity to work with,” he said. “They have done their best to put me in a position to succeed, and that is something I look forward to doing for future student-athletes.

“Similarly, having the opportunity to play with my teammates and friends that I have grown up with my entire life is an experience that cannot be compared to anything else. I certainly miss the unique moments that are special to playing at Brentwood, like walking through the stadium bleachers with all of the fans and parents cheering for you as the band plays the final countdown. Also, running out of the tunnel for basketball games right before playing Carrick in the ‘Battle of Brownsville Road' was a great memory. Those are moments that I will never forget.”

Sydney Bauer is scheduled to graduate from Duquesne in May. She is a video production intern for the Penguins and currently works in multimedia operations in the Duquesne athletic department.

“After college, I want to pursue my passion for video production in a professional sports organization,” she said. “Having the opportunity to learn and grow from professionals who have been working in the industry for years is incredible. Not only can you learn from their success but also from their mistakes.”

Sydney was a four-year athlete in softball and basketball and a two-time all-section selection in softball at Brentwood. She also was honored as the most outstanding team player in softball.

“Some of my greatest memories were spent on the field and court, playing basketball and softball with the same kids I spent my entire childhood with,” she said. “Brentwood Park will always be second home to me. I miss everything from the bus rides to the rivalry matchups you'll never get back.

“I'll definitely never forget my senior year when our basketball team made the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. Being with the program through its difficult years and help turning it around made me appreciate the game even more. It shows you what hard work can accomplish.”

Justin Bauer is a sales account executive for W.B. Mason.

He was a defensive lineman at W&J from 2013-16. He made two playoff appearances, played in one ECAC bowl game and finished his career with 113 total tackles, including 21 tackles for a loss and 13 sacks.

In high school, he was a four-year athlete in football and baseball and landed all-conference football honors twice.

Luke Bauer is a Brentwood sophomore. He is an offensive/defensive lineman and was an all-conference selection in 2017. He also is a shot put/javelin specialist in the Spartans' track and field program.

Growing up in the Bauer household provided a highly competitive atmosphere for the four children. It started with Cory and Justin and was extended to Sydney and Luke.

“Definitely,” Sydney said. “Whether it was baseball, basketball, football or hockey, we were always out in the street competing with one another from the time we were little. Things still haven't changed.”

And her oldest brother agreed.

“Playing sports with my siblings was, and still is, a common theme that seems to bond our family together,” Cory said. “Especially at a younger age, there was always a competitive nature to the game we would play just for the fact of seeing who was better at a particular sport. But now it is moreso just to enjoy time with each other.

‘With my parents being so involved in the Brentwood Athletic Boosters and my sibling playing sports at Brentwood, I am very grateful I had the opportunity to share some special moments with each of them.”

Much like the Bauer family, the Brentwood High Athletic Boosters organization is a household name in the Brentwood school district and community.

“Most schools have individual booster organizations for each sport. The Brentwood boosters support all 12 sports teams, and cheerleaders, the entire year,” Bob said. “Our goal is to provide financial support to help fund programs and camps and to purchase equipment. We provide support to all of the student-athletes and their coaches so they have the tools they need to be successful.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Brentwood