Nick Kaschik Class: Senior Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas High School: Peddie School Height: 6-3 Event: Breast/IM/Back Birthdate: 05/20/1978

THIS SEASON: Nick Kaschik, a 2002 senior, is a versatile swimmer who looks to repeat the success from his All-American debut from a year ago. Kaschik is the seventh-fastest Trojan ever in both the 200y IM (1:47.14) and the 400y IM (3:49.42).

2001: Kaschik earned his first All-American honor as a Trojan as a 2001 junior when he helped USC to a seventh-place finish in the 400y medley relay at the NCAA Championships … He was also 18th in both the 200y IM (1:47.68) and the 200y back (1:45.37) and was 30th in the 400y IM (3:59.23) … Kaschik had a great 2001 Pacific-10 Conference Championships, finalling three times. He was sixth in both the 200y IM (1:47.90) and the 400y IM (3:49.42) and was eighth in the 200y back (1:47.45). His 400y IM time was a lifetime best.

2000: As a 2000 sophomore, Kaschik made his second trip to the NCAAs and competed in three events, scoring twice ... He finished 11th in the 200m IM (1:59.91, sc) and 16th in the 400m IM (4:20.97, sc), reaching the consolation finals of both. He also took 21st in the 200m back (1:58.58, sc) ... At the 2000 Pac-10s, Kaschik was fifth in both the 200y IM (1:47.39) and the 200y back (1:46.15) and was eighth in the 400y IM (3:54.59). He also swam the fly on USC’s third-place 400y medley relay.

1999: Kaschik competed in three events at the 1999 NCAAs as a freshman ... He took 21st in the 200y IM (1:48.60), 22nd in the 200y back (1:46.18) and 33rd in the 400y IM (3:55.46) ... He made two finals appearances at the 1999 Pac-10s, taking fourth in both the 200y IM (1:48.06) and 400y IM (3:52.26). He was also 10th in the 200y breast (2:01.75) ... Kaschik was among USC’s fastest three swimmers in five events, including having the top mark in the 200y IM (1:47.96) ... He competed at the 1998 U.S. Open in five events, his top finish eighth-place in the 200m IM (2:04.75, SC). He was also 12th in the 400m IM (4:24.13, SC).

HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., Kaschik competed in three events at the 1998 Spring Nationals, taking 12th in the 200m IM (2:07.03), 15th in the 200m breast (2:23.71) and 26th in the 100m breast (1:06.29) ... At the 1996 U.S. Open, Kaschik won the 200m IM (1:59.18 — a meet record), took second in the 100m breast (1:01.46) and fifth in both the 200m breast (2:14.63) and the 100m fly (55.26), earning Most Valuable Swimmer honors ... At the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, he finished 10th in the 200m IM ... Kaschik won Junior National titles in 1993 in the 200m (2:07.53) and the 400m (4:32.77) IM.

PERSONAL: Kaschik, a political science major, was born May 20, 1978. Ten years ago, Kaschik caught an extremely rare virus called viral meninges encephalitis, an infection of the lining of the brain. It afflicts one in every 300 million people and rendered Kaschik comatose for a month. Approximately 30 people had caught the disease before and only seven had lived. He beat the odds, broke out of the coma and recovered, though without much memory of the first 13 years of his life. He had to relearn everything he had known, from basic shapes and colors to who his own parents were. He had to repeat his sophomore year and his short-term memory was permanently affected. He has reclaimed some of the memory he has lost and has made steady progress towards the levels he was at before his illness. He credits swimming with helping him to overcome his crisis. Said Kaschik: “After I had relearned how to walk, all I wanted to do was swim. And I’ve been getting better ever since then.” Said Kaschik of his memory: “It’s very spotty. There are certain things that I remember. There are weird things I remember, like my first girlfriend when I was a kid. But I don’t remember some of my best friends growing up.” Said Kaschik of relearning his past: “Ever since I got ill, it’s like you pick up with the life you’ve been given since you were sick. You learn about somebody else that’s supposedly you.”

KASCHIK'S PERSONAL RECORDS: