Dawson Schroering stretches, holding a deep breath in bridge pose, during practice leading up to the state wrestling tournament at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Christian Kantosky/The Watchdog

Behind the curtained off warm up area at the edge of Alltech Arena, over 100 high school wrestlers brush past each other, many wearing headphones as they warm up in pajama pants.

Some watch their peers walk off the mat after a loss, falling into their coach’s arms, tears falling down their face.

Others spar with a partner while trying not to run into any competitors.

But Dawson Schroering sits on the floor of the gymnasium wearing a face of concentration, torn gym pants and his headgear.

Dawson Schroering prepare for his warmups during the state wrestling tournament at Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Christian Kantosky/The Watchdog

Dawson said he was once the type to cry after a loss, often wrestling from a place of insecurity.

“I would be scared of them [his opponents]. I’d look up their name,” the duPont Manual High School junior said. “I’d see that they were in the rankings, and then I’d count myself out of it.”

According to Dawson, some of his fear came from being a reserved person. It was only recently that he realized the importance of working on his mentality.

In the summer leading up to his junior year, while competing in a local “no stakes” tournament, Dawson said he faced the number one wrestler in his weight class with a clear head, as people expected him to lose.

Dawson wrestled a close match, not letting those expectations affect him, ultimately winning by a 7-5 decision.

In the immediate seconds following the match, Dawson said he realized maintaining a clear head meant he could compete with any of the top wrestlers in the state.

“I started taking my mental preparation so seriously because I realized what I was capable of,” Dawson said.

Dawson Schroering tapes one of his teammates hands during practice leading up to the State Wrestling Tournament at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Christian Kantosky/The Watchdog

In the eight months since that match, Dawson has dedicated time to developing new habits, such as meditation and visualization, to improve his mental processes.

“You visualize something in your head long enough, a specific goal that you want, and your brain forgets. . . that didn’t actually happen. It thinks that actually happened,” Dawson said. “Once you reach that point in self-confidence, all the fear and anxiety about what you want to do goes away.”

For Dawson, dedicating 10-12 hours each week to physical training while also taking time for daily meditation is important for his growth as an athlete.

“I train my mind just like I train lifting weights or going to wrestling practice,” Dawson said. “I’ve dedicated time where I learn skills to regulate my emotions and kill anxiety, and it just takes a lot of work like anything else.”

That type of mindset is what Dawson said sets him apart from his competition now.

“People always say, you know, ‘I want to get to the top, I’ll do whatever it takes,’ but then they don’t put in the work,” Dawson said. “They don’t put in the extra practices, they don’t consistently go every single day, even when they don’t want to.”

Dawson Schroering reacts to being knocked down by Frank Niyonyishu of Henry Clay during the state wrestling tournament at Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Christian Kantosky/The Watchdog

According to Dawson, he wants to provide that consistency in his leadership, too.

The youngest captain on the boys’ team, Dawson said he serves as a role model, picking his teammates up both in practice and during competitions.

“I’m the guy that people go to when they need something. Like, especially the younger guys,” Dawson said. “I have the responsibility of watching everyone else. You know, most people are just focused on their matches, but I’ll go in and watch other guys, and I’ll coach them up during theirs.”

Although his team has experienced many coaching changes, Dawson said he stepped into a teaching role to help his teammates grow alongside him.

Playing a small role in his teammates’ development is fulfilling, according to Dawson.

“A lot of people expect it to be some big responsibility, but it’s not,” Dawson said. “I love being able to represent my team on the biggest stages, and I love to lead the other guys and set a good example of what they can be.”

Dawson Schroering steps onto the podium after placing 7th the state wrestling tournament at Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Christian Kantosky/The Watchdog

Dawson placed seventh in his weight class at the 2026 KHSAA State Wrestling Championships, held from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Friday, Feb. 27.

Even after taking a few losses, Dawson lifted up his teammates who did not place, and encouraged those who continued to wrestle.

“Right now, I just feel so elated. I feel like that’s the right word,” Dawson said after winning his final match. “There’s just no other way to explain it.”

After losing at last year’s state championship, Dawson went to work the next day.

In preparation leading up to this tournament, Dawson said he learned not to tie his worth to his results because he was not afraid anymore.

“If I had went 0-2 today, or if I’d won the whole thing, nobody’s going to love me any different,” Dawson said.

According to Dawson, this was because of his dad, Steve Schroering, a former top-10 high school wrestler, who has never missed a match of Dawson’s.

“He was the one who sat with me as I cried after matches,” Dawson said. “He’s the one who’s watched me grow.”

No matter the result this year, Dawson said he hopes only to keep improving his wrestling with support from his family and teammates as they help each other improve.

“Wrestling will give you some of the hardest days of your life, but it’ll also give you some of the best memories you’ll ever have,” Dawson said. “I’m so grateful that I’ve started forming some.”