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Drew R. Bauer Memorial Water Polo Scholarship

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About the Drew R. Bauer Memorial Water Polo Scholarship

Drew R. Bauer

Drew Bauer is fondly remembered as a light-hearted man with an infectious personality that people naturally gravitated towards. He put people at ease and made everyone feel as though they were his lifelong friend.   

Drew was born in Iowa and grew up in Oregon, Hawaii, and Florida. His passion for water sports began when he was a child.  He played water polo throughout his life and was the captain of his high school and college teams.  Following his undergraduate education at the University of Florida, he interned with the USOC planning committee for the Atlanta Olympics and continued to play, coach, and promote the sport of water polo.  He was most comfortable in the pool and loved rocking a speedo, especially when it embarrassed his kids. 

Before he passed in August 2020 he was a very active member of the water polo community in Phoenix, specifically Scottsdale Water Polo. As a tribute to his life his friends in the water polo community, initiated by Gene Dafoe, decided to create a memorial to Drew both in the sport he loved, as well as in an effort to support the growth and education of local college student-athletes. From this idea, the Drew R. Bauer Memorial Water Polo Scholarship was born. Its main goal is to support student-athletes participating in the men’s and women’s water polo program at OUAZ.

The Drew Bauer scholarship shall be awarded to a student attending OUAZ who is a member of the water polo team. The primary intent of the scholarship is to assist in the recruitment and retention of OUAZ water polo student-athletes. The scholarship shall be awarded based on the recommendation of the OUAZ water polo head coach, or in his absence, by the OUAZ athletic director. The scholarship shall be awarded without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

Drew Bauer was a prominent member of the water polo community in Arizona. He had a passion for developing this sport in the valley and this scholarship will continue his legacy. His legacy also carries on in the lives he touched including family, many dear friends, and colleagues who remember him as a genuine man who always put a smile on their faces. His memory lives on in the hearts of people he’s impacted, especially through water polo.

Drew Bauer, class of 1990
Drew Bauer, class of 1990

In Memoriam

Miami Springs Senior High Alum and Water Polo star, Drew Bauer, passed away on August 13, 2020, in an article posted by The Fountain Hill Times. Drew graduated class of 1990. He was a swimming phenom, but his great love was water polo. (Back in the glory days when Miami Springs had a big pool that could support the sport.) Drew would go on to be the Miami Springs Pool Director during the mid 1990s.

According to the article, Bauer was "survived by his former wife, Marla Bauer; their children, Jackson and Sydney; his parents Richard and Judy Bauer; his siblings and their spouses, Lisa (Alex), TJ (Dolores) and Rob (Becca), and five nieces and nephews."

Drew interned with the U.S. Olympic Committee in Atlanta and “He continued to play, coach and promote water polo, most recently with Scottsdale Water Polo Club.”

In a loving tribute to what Drew loved most, “the family asks that any memorial contributions be made to USA Water Polo – Splashball, in memory of Drew R. Bauer: #6 Morgan, Ste. 1150 Irvine, CA 92618”.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bauer family, friends, and loved ones. We lost a very loving and joyous man way too early.

Drew Bauer, class of 1990
Bottom, L to R: Emily Martinez, Leslie Torres, Monica Monsalve, Johanny Coucelo. 2nd Row, L to R: Jay Nino, Naidy Perez, Loretta Garcia, Chandell Ingle, Steve Hodgdon. 3rd Row, L to R: Willie Gonzalez, Brad Paquette, Eddie Young, Ruben Sanchez, Ralph Rizo, Danny Perez. Top, L to R: Joel Gonzalez, Eric Finnen, Drew Bauer, German Sanchez, Coaches: Evelyn Bahn and Chris Sollars.
Drew Bauer, class of 1990
Bottom, L to R: Raul Rizo, Mario Duran, Drew Bauer, German Sanchez, Steve Hodgdon. Top, L to R: Sam Kasbarran, Rob Bauer, Willy Gonzalez, Ralph DelaPaz, Brad Paquette, Eric Finnen, Joel Gonzalez.
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