Athlete of the Week: Killian Dickson

Three-year senior and captain of the varsity cycling team, Killian Dickson sprints down the final stretch of his race neck and neck with his opponent and captain of the Phillips Academy cycling team, David Shamritsky. On both sides of the finish line, members of his team shout, firing him up for the last few meters of the tiring challenge. He crosses the line first and comes to a stop. Immediately he is surrounded, caught and hoisted up by his teammates, who carry him off of his bike.

Initially becoming interested in the sport during a long distance cycling trip that he took before his lower year, Dickson decided to join the team and continue his passion once he arrived at Exeter. Once he made the “Varsity C” team his lower year, he was happy to see the camaraderie that brought every member of the team together. 

“After every practice and every race, we would eat together as a team,” Dickson said. “Those were the guys and girls who really taught me the new ‘rules of the road’ and solidified by interest in the sport.”

Along with the seniors that helped him during his lower year, the coach of the cycling team, physical instructor Don Mills, also helped Dickson transition to the competitive aspect of the sport he loved.

“Even though we’re new to his team, he treats us like we’re just as important to the overall success of the team, and that really means a lot to me.”

“[Mills] was both my swimming and water polo coach, and even though I didn’t know he was the cycling coach, it was really nice to have him there and it really connected all three of my sports in a meaningful way,” Dickson said.

Dickson, now captain of the cycling team, finds himself in a position to inspire the younger members of the team, just like his previous captains did with him. “One of my main focuses this year has been bringing us all together and emphasizing that we are all on the same team,” he said.

Prep Garrett Kimball clearly sees this trait in Killian, as he has become closer to him over the course of the season.

“Even though we’re new to his team, he treats us like we’re just as important to the overall success of the team, and that really means alot to me,” Kimball said.

This year, the cycling team has also received many new and promising faces, according to Dickson. Besides working to teach the new members the basics of the sport, Dickson is striving to instill a work ethic that he thinks will carry the team to success long after he graduates. 

“For me, at least, this season has been as much about my success as it has been making sure that the team has a solid foundation for years to come,” he said.

Dickson has the utmost confidence in his teammates’ ability to preserve the team’s tradition of unity. “Even though the season isn’t even close to over, I already feel the team coming together and performing as one body of athletes,” Dickson said. “I’m just really happy that I had the opportunity to pass down the torch to such an amazing group of cyclers.”