COLUMBUS, Ohio — Some of Sean Bauman’s first memories include the scarlet and gray.
“My mom has been telling me about this since I was like 2 years old,” Bauman said. “The marching band, dotting the I, all of these traditions that we have at Ohio State.”
Bauman is a senior sousaphone player in the Ohio State marching band, and this Saturday he gets to fulfill a childhood dream when Ohio State opens the season against Texas.
“I’ve been dreaming about this moment my entire life,” he said. “This means the world to me. I grew up a Buckeye, and now I get to do the thing I’ve always dreamed of.”
When Bauman ‘dots the I’ during Script Ohio, he will become the first Strongsville High School graduate to receive the honor, something Strongsville High School band director Brian King takes pride in.
“I know that that was his dream, and he went on and he followed that through until he got it, and he didn’t care how many times it took to get it,” said King.
Bauman played the saxophone at Strongsville and taught himself to play the sousaphone at Ohio State in efforts to join The Best Damn Band in the Land. The journey to dotting the I was filled with ups and downs.
“I got cut from the band three times,” Bauman said. “I finally made it my fourth time trying. I put 100% on the field and now I can confidently say I deserve to be here.”
Bauman still has a relationship with King and said he helped him get to this point.
“He found out that I was wanting to be in the marching band, and he gave me a sousaphone mouth piece I still play on today,” said Bauman.
Bauman’s dad, Bob, said he proud of all of his son’s hard work behind the scenes that has led to this moment.
“He kept his eyes on the goal, and he strove for it,” he said. “That’s what he’s learned in life now too.”
Bauman’s mother, Mary, graduated from Ohio State and said her son receiving the milestone is something she wouldn’t trade for the world.
“All of the late nights, early mornings, it’s all worth it,” she said. “To see that smile on his face and him happy in his environment. There’s no amount of money you could give anybody to replace that.”
As Bauman realizes his dream in front of over 100,000 people, he said his focus will be on the one person who taught him how to be a Buckeye.
“My mom is one of my biggest supporters,” said Bauman. “Some might say I’m doing this for her.”
Jack Berney
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