NIACC's Judisch wins Marines' comeback award

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - NIACC's Kason Judisch was the winner of the 2022 Marines' Battles Won Comeback Award at the NJCAA national cross country banquet Friday night.

Judisch, a freshman from Sumner, has won more than his share of battles since being severely injured in a car accident in May of 2020.

Judisch suffered a traumatic brain injury, one according to a KWWL story in February of 2021, that was informally classified as a 9.5 on a 10-point scale.

"We don't have any expectations," Judisch's mother Kelli was quoted as saying in the KWWL story, "just expect that he's going to get as better as he can. Every milestone is a celebration."

Fast forward to August of 2022, Kason and his family have had plenty to celebrate.

Judisch enrolled in classes at NIACC, joined the cross country team and will run Saturday at the NJCAA Division II national championship race.

On Friday night, Judisch was awarded the first-ever Marines' comeback award.

"He didn't know he had been nominated," NIACC cross country coach Steven Story said. "He was like 'what's going on?'

"We (the coaches) were telling him that he had to go up front (to accept the award). He was a bit nervous and didn't want to go up there."

Story said Judisch is a very deserving recepient of the national award.

"He was told that he would never walk again," Story said.

Story said that Judisch has been a joy to coach this season.

"It's just awesome to see him on a run." the coach said. "When he's running, it's just pure joy. He's never complained one bit.

"If I told him that we were going to run 100 miles, he'd just smile and say 'OK.'"