If there ever were a man who fully embraces all of life’s adventures, it is Steve Bajusz. A dynamic performer in diverse arenas, Bajusz has commanded each stage he has called home. His favorite home at Naperville Central was the gymnastics area behind the bleacher in Central’s main gym. He remembers, “We didn’t have a designated gym, and we would have to take all of our equipment down whenever there was a home basketball game or other event that required opening up the bleachers. I started working out there in sixth grade […] and spent seven years in that gym, my second home.”In that second home, Bajusz captivated judges and fans alike. A 4-year varsity gymnast, he was the 1984 Horizontal Bar State Champion and a 4th place finisher in the All-Around; it was Naperville Central’s first state title in gymnastics. At the state meet, Bajusz was honored by the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association as the “most outstanding senior gymnast in the state.” His senior year featured 19 first place finishes out of a possible 21 and twenty total medals. At the ’84 state finals, Bajusz was among the top four in six of seven events. Coach Tom Temple sang Bajusz’s praises in a post-state interview with The Naperville Sun’s Susan Erion, saying, “His mental conditioning really shows, and his discipline, inherent talent, and the good coaching he has received from a lot of people has served him well. It was a one-in-a-million opportunity for me. I learned a lot from coaching him, and I hope I did him some good, helping him to peak at the right time.” Bajusz’s talents earned him a place on both the 1983 and 1984 Junior National Gymnastics Team where he attended training camps at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and competed against the Japanese Junior National Team. Bajusz competed against 80 of the country’s top gymnasts to capture a roster spot, noting, “The competition was much more intense there. The mental aspect of competition was much more important.”He credits much of that mental strength to coaches Tom Temple and Frank Erwin. Bajusz shared, “They were sort of my father and older brother. Both coaches had a clear picture of my strengths and weaknesses and took the time to work with me on an individual basis. They taught me the virtues of patience and persistence.” While gymnastics is an individual sport, Bajusz thrived on the connections he had with his teammates and coaches: “While you do compete as a team, you are out on the floor alone. I liked the individual friendly competition with my teammates while still working together to score high as a team.” Those connections and healthy competition fed his commitment to all things Redskin. He sang in the chorus, performed in musicals, and loved performing on stage in the annual Homecoming Assembly. As driven in the classroom as he was in the gym, Bajusz graduated in the top 2% of his class. After high school, Bajusz continued his gymnastics career at the University of Minnesota, helping the Golden Gophers capture a Big 10 Conference championship title and competing in the NCAA finals before battling injury. He graduated with a degree in Journalism and Advertising and set off to extend his performing career beyond the gymnastics arena. His first professional job was performing for Norwegian Cruise Line. From there he moved to London to further study his craft and audition for shows. He did a show in Hamburg, Germany, for a year before moving to New York City, where he lived and worked for 10 years, performing on stage at the Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera House. Bajusz performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show, featuring the Rockettes, in Mexico City and toured with the National Tour of CATS. Later, he moved to Las Vegas where he performed in a show at the MGM Grand and participated in a workshop for Wynn Las Vegas’ current show, “La Reve.” Throughout his time in musical theater, Bajusz stayed connected to gymnastics, coaching both children and adults, grateful for the opportunity to give back to the sport that gave him so much. After age, injuries and changing interests prompted Bajusz to leave the performing arts, his competitive spirit and explorer nature led him to diverse pursuits, including adventure travel guide, flight attendant, and massage therapist. He is currently an RN working in surgery at a hospital in San Diego. His advice to current NCHS student-athletes is advice young Bajusz would have valued as well: “Find balance in life. You may feel your sport is your entire life, but know that unless you are extremely lucky, you can’t rely on that to carry you through life. Get involved in other activities, learn new skills, and never stop exploring.”