Andrew Dillon continues to not let brain cancer define him

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After the re-diagnosis, Andrew continued with normal life. He kept playing baseball, attending church and keeping up his stellar work in the classroom. He finished with all ‘A’s’ despite every potential obstacle getting in his way.

He wasn’t just a member of the roster for Bethel baseball, either. Andrew finished as the team’s leader in batting average at .289. He played in 43 games, helping the Pilots qualify for the Crossroads League tournament.

“I had fun,” said Andrew of his senior season. “We weren’t the most successful on the field, but this team itself was great. I loved hanging out with the guys. We had a lot of fun, made a lot of memories.”

Andrew’s courageous battle earned him the Ron Paulsen Award, presented to one male and one female athlete annually who “exemplifies the values of Pilot Athletics” based on "athletic involvement, character, leadership, and involvement in the social and academic programs of the college." It was four days after the fact that Andrew’s parents even found out about the honor, and they didn’t even learn the news from Andrew himself. His girlfriend, Paxton, told Bryan and Michelle about it.

“He is so humble,” Michelle Dillon said. “I find that we probably brag on him more than we should maybe because he is just so humble. You don’t see that a whole lot in young men. He’s always been that way.”

What lies ahead for Andrew Dillon

A microcosm of Andrew Dillon’s life came across three days last week.

On April 30, he was playing baseball in the conference tournament. The next day, he had to go in for his first brain cancer infusion treatment. The day after that, he graduated college.

From left: Bryan Dillon, Andrew Dillon and Michelle Dillon take a picture after Andrew's graduation ceremony from Bethel University Saturday, May 2, 2026.

The future remains uncertain for Andrew. He’s returning home to Wabash for the summer, looking for a full-time job after graduating with a bachelor’s in business management. He plans to umpire little league baseball games in the meantime to keep himself busy.

Andrew is also looking at another summer of cancer treatments. He’s tentatively scheduled to start a five-day radiation treatment plan on Monday, May 11. He’ll be staying with the Poorman family during that span to save time and money commuting from Wabash to South Bend and back. After that is a likely return to the chemo pills he was taking last year.

“You don’t know how many times I’ve asked why; why did this happen?” Bryan Dillon said. “Why are we still unclear of the future or what’s going to happen? It’s hard, but then again, I heard Andrew say a peace came over him and that everything would be OK. I haven’t experienced that, but when he’s the one battling it and he felt the peace come over him, that meant a lot.”

Andrew admits he hasn’t had time to slow down and reflect much about the last 15 months. He does know that his story has resonated with all of those around him.

“I’ve definitely learned that I had put my identity in school and sports, and what this has shown me is this is all bigger than that,” Andrew said. “The ability to impact others through this … I’ve learned there is more to life than school and baseball. That’s not who I am.”

Austin Hough is a sports editor within the Center for Community Journalism at USA Today Co., overseeing high school sports and Notre Dame athletics coverage for five Indiana newspapers. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough. Hough can be emailed at ahough@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Bethel baseball graduate Andrew Dillon continues brain cancer journey