LANCASTER — Being a multi-sport athlete can be challenging, but it also has its rewards, especially when you are the best at what you do.
There were several area male athletes who had standout seasons, but one stood out above the rest. Lancaster Cole Dickerson was a difference-maker on the football field and a state placer in wrestling.
For his accomplishments as a two-sport standout, Dickerson is the 2024 Eagle-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year.
Other finalists for the award were Fairfield Union’s Celeb Schmelzer, Bloom-Carroll’s Park Truex, Fisher Catholic’s Jack Gentile and Fairfield Union’s Caleb Redding.
Dickerson talked about how thankful he was to not only be considered for the award but was quick to thank the support system and the people around him.
“I am grateful to win this award, but even more so for it and the people around me,” Dickerson said. “This reflects all those around me. I would be nowhere close to where I am without the people who have helped me at every level, and I am grateful for the award for them. This just shows that you can do it if you put the work in, you can accomplish anything you want to. I am truly grateful because this gives me a way to kind of give back and show what they have done for me.”
Dickerson capped off his career by having outstanding seasons in football and wrestling.
Dickerson was named the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division Offensive Player of the Year and first team Division I All-Central District after he rushed for 1,155 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He took a lot of pride in not getting tackled on the first hit, and most of his yards came after first contact.
Dickerson was not only a mainstay on offense, but what made his offensive numbers so impressive was that he was a standout on defense as a linebacker, as well. Even though he took a ton of punishment and hits as a running back, he was making plays on defense.
He finished with 80 tackles, including 50 solos and seven tackles for loss.
“He is a different dude,” Lancaster football coach Bryan Schoonover said. “He is so strong, physically, but even more than that, he is one of the most mentally tough kids I have ever been around. There is nothing that fazes him.”
In wrestling, Dickerson was a three-time state qualifier who surpassed 150 career wins this season and was a two-time state placer to earn All-Ohio honors the past two seasons.
“To see someone getting what they deserve as a multi-sport athlete is the neatest thing about Cole,” Lancaster wrestling coach Dugan Bentley said. “This kid is a leader in the school that does things the right way, that has good values, he takes care of his grades, is a good teammate, whether it be an individual sport like wrestling or a team sport like football, he just does all the right things. In terms of the total package for a high school athlete, he is it. He is coachable, likable, hard-working, talented, athletic, smart; he has all the traits you look for.”
Even though sports took up a lot of his time, Dickerson also got it done in the classroom where her carried a 4.5 grade point average.
“That comes with responsibility and it’s something my parents instilled in me,” Dickerson said. “Ever since I was a kid, my dad instilled in me that if your grades aren’t up to par, sports come second and you are not playing sports, so that has always been my priority. School is first and I get to play sports, it’s how I have always approached it.”
Dickerson will attend Wabash College to wrestle, and he has not ruled out playing football.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.
Most Popular
Comments / 0