By Angela Brunk
Dacia Root is a senior at Derby High School and a dedicated member of the wrestling team. Over her high school career, wrestling has become her main athletic focus and has helped shape her mindset both on and off the mat. As she enters her senior season, Root is motivated to continue growing and challenging herself at a higher level.
What excites Root most about this season is the opportunity to face past rivalries and compete again against opponents she lost to by close matches last year. These experiences push her to improve and stay motivated. During the offseason, Root worked hard to stay in shape by going to the gym and running regularly.
One of her main areas of focus has been improving her shots in the neutral position. She spent time shadow wrestling and practicing with her brother, which helped build confidence and consistency in her technique.
Root’s goals for the season reflect her growth-oriented mindset. Personally, she aims to focus less on wins and losses and more on recognizing improvement in every match. For her team, Root hopes that each wrestler becomes a leader in their own way and represents the team’s culture with pride wherever they compete.
Last season, Root finished with an impressive record of 33 wins and 17 losses and earned the second-most takedowns on the team.
Throughout her high school years, she participated in several sports, mainly softball, but made the decision to quit softball last year to focus solely on wrestling. After high school, Root plans to attend Emporia State University, where she will pursue a degree in elementary education.
