Racer overcomes medical issues to place first in MXC1 division, third in youth division

WARSAW − A medical setback didn't damper the smile or perseverance of a Warsaw boy from rising to the top of the ATV racing world once again.

Bryson and Raelynn Dickerson have been racing bikes since they were old enough to hold on. Their parents, Dustin and Amy Dickerson, once raced ATVs themselves, but shifted all their focus to their children.

For the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) 2023 season, Bryson, 10, finished first in MXC1 division and third in the youth division. Raelynn 11, finished third in youth girls junior ATV, her best showing ever. Bryson was second for MXC1 and first in youth in 2022 and Raelynn was 11th in her division. The GNCC has races from February to October extending from Indiana to Florida.

This coming year, Bryson will be in the youth division only because of age and Raelynn advances to the youth girls senior. Raelynn is staying with her 125cc ATV, while Bryson is moving to a YZ85cc shifter model. The siblings went to 18 races, down from 24 the year before.

The family cutback on races outside the GNCC this past season because of Bryson fighting Lyme disease, which also brought on Bell's palsy. Amy said the original diagnosis was staph infection and cellulitis, but treatment for those didn't result in any improvements for Bryson.

"He had raced that morning and did well, but he went out for the youth race later and had a mechanical problem. He just sat on the sidelines and was perfectly OK with that, which isn't like Bryson. He's like 'ah, man, I want to race,' but he was really tired," Amy recalled from the Mason-Dixon race in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania.

They then went to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus where they received the Lyme disease diagnosis. While doctors thought they caught it in time to prevent further complications, Bryson unfortunately developed Bell's palsy. He has since recovered, but it was scary for a time.

"Two days after being home (from the hospital), Bryson was out in the garage and came in to me and said 'Mommy, my face feels funny.' Then I saw it droop," Amy remembered. "They were worried he was going to get it on the other side of his face too, because his ears hurt so bad and they say that's one of the first signs of Bell's palsy, because it's pinching that nerve. Luckily, he didn't and he started coming out of it."

Bryson had muscle soreness, fatigue and lost strength overall. He also had to adjust his diet, cutting out salt and sugar and some food didn't taste right to him.

"I tried not to think about it much. I treated it like another day really," Bryson said about pushing through the medical problems. "I just kept riding like how I do."

Raelynn scored her first wins in the youth girls junior division. She loves the traveling involved, but simply riding is her favorite thing.

"Riding just makes me happy. It makes me a happy person. I just love it. If I wasn't racing right now, I'd don't know what I'd do with my life," Raelynn said.

Dustin said while natural ability has always been there, the siblings have to work hard for what they've achieved and the older they get, the more the concept clicks with them.

"They're starting to really see that hard work proves itself with results. What you put into something is what you get out of it," Dustin said. "When they were young, they didn't quite understand that. Now that they're getting older, they're starting to realize what steps it takes when you really devote yourself to something and the results show that."

You can follow their racing by visiting Dickerson's Racing Facebook page and on Instagram at Dickerson Racing.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Despite medical issue, young ATV racer from Warsaw continues to excel