USD Magazine Summer 2015

GETTING TO KNOW ...

air. I just wanted to lie on a base- ball field and see the stars.” He lost 45 pounds, going from 6-feet-1, 225 pounds to 180. Despite Kaczmarek’s leukemia diagnosis, the Kansas City Royals drafted him days later in the 40th round. The cancer has been in remission since Kaczmarek’s release. He enrolled at USD in the fall of 2013 and has played in a lim- ited capacity the past two seasons. After appearing in only three games in 2014, Kaczmarek sig- naled a return to top form when he pitched six shutout innings vs. San Diego State in May. He takes one daily chemo- therapy pill, another once weekly, and makes a monthly visit to an Arizona hospital for IV treatments. There’s a good-news, bad-news angle to the cancer treatment. The good news is that his cancer is in remission. The bad news is that chemo zaps his energy. “It’s still a struggle every day,” he says. “I feel tired, fatigued.” Meanwhile, he pushes onward, lifting weights, stepping atop the mound, practicing in the bullpen. If the cancer stays in remission, he can stop the chemotherapy medication in September. He’s applied for an additional year of eligibility, and wonders how hard he’ll be able to throw and pitch with the anticipated increase in stamina. “I don’t know if anybody could have handled this any better,” says USD Baseball Coach Rich Hill. “Taylor’s on the mound, throwing bullpen (workouts), in the weight room. You can see the determination in his face.” Kaczmarek jokes that battling cancer is like “belonging to a brotherhood you don’t want to be in.” He takes off his baseball cap, wipes his brow and says, “People may think I’m crazy, but I wouldn’t trade (cancer) for anything. “I take nothing, absolutely nothing for granted. The beach. The desert. The mountains. Every day is a blessing.”

BRETT MASI TIM MANTOANI

AGE: 36. HOMETOWN: Riverside, Calif. CREDENTIALS: Over the past two seasons, the Brett Masi-led USD men’s tennis team has not

lost a match in West Coast Conference play; an unprecedented achievement in program history. “To have the opportunity to coach here at USD is amazing. As a Southern California native, I was aware of how successful the Torero tennis program has been, and we’re doing everything we can to continue that winning tradition.” A FAMILY AFFAIR: Masi didn’t have to go far to find a blueprint for coaching success. “My dad was the head coach for basketball at UC Riverside for 26 years, so coaching is in my blood. He taught me the value of sportsmanship and playing for something bigger than yourself.” WORLDLY: There’s no denying that internationally-born recruits have been a cornerstone of the Torero tennis program, and the 2014-15 squad is certainly no exception. “With USD being a school that’s so desirable in terms of location, academics and athletics, it’s really appealing to young players from all over the world. Our roster is a reflection of that.” RAISING THE BAR: As the two-time defending West Coast Conference champions, the Toreros are no stranger to on-court success. Masi has a sneaking suspicion that he’s got the talent in place to take the program to new heights. “We’re a top 30 program, and we want to get to the next level. We believe in each other and play for each other. We’ll see where that leads.”

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