King coach Jason Moorman’s off-season recruiting haul sent a message: Overlook King at your own peril. 

The Tornado have weathered the storm against the best NCAA women’s programs in the country — and won. 

Moorman led his team to four straight WCWA (all divisions) titles from 2014 through 2017 and has 12 top-five finishes at the national collegiate championships over the past 13 seasons. 

They are also the reigning two-time NWCA National Duals champions with finals wins over the eventual NCWWC champions, McKendree and North Central. Sarah Hildebrandt, Forrest Molinari, Alli Ragan, and Haley Augello are just a few of the world-caliber wrestlers the program has produced. 

King At The National Championships

King's Recruiting Haul

King has a formidable line-up with plenty of top-end power. King returns three wrestlers in FloWrestling’s pound-for-pound college rankings: Samara Chavez (#4), Sage Mortimer (#6), and Cheyenne Bowman (#21).

Moorman went on a recruiting spree to add even more firepower. He recently landed junior college stars Victoria Baez-Dillone (Umpqua), Aine Drury (Cerritos), and Alexa Garcia (Southwestern Oregon) along with a promising crop of incoming freshmen. 

Baez-Dillone (#14) and Drury (#22) are also in FloWrestling’s pound-for-pound top 25 rankings. That means King has five of the best 25 wrestlers entering the season. 

Chavez made the US National Team (top three) at 53 kg with a pin over Iowa’s likely starter Felicity Taylor. Mortimer has a proven track record, too, and will be in the mix to win the 109-pound title. 

Bowman has a signature win over three-time NCWWC champion Yelena Makoyed who might return to North Central for her COVID year. Baez-Dillone has made multiple age-level World teams for Spain and Drury finished fourth at the US Open (65 kg). 

That’s in addition to returning All-Americans Jessica Corredor, Dianna Holmes, Danielle Garcia, Melanie Mendoza, Montana DeLawder, Claire DiCugno (transfer), and Tiffani Baublitz. Also add in true freshman Mia Zuniga, Virginia Foard, and Anna DiCugno. 

This team can — and will — contend with Iowa, North Central, and McKendree for the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship title. 

Olympic Redshirts And Weight Shifts

Moorman is uncertain about what he’ll do with this line-up. He might Olympic redshirt some or all of his stars for a loaded team next season. He might move a few established wrestlers to new weights to make room for his incoming class. 

Bowman — a returning national finalist — might move down to 155, which makes room for Tiffani Baublitz to move up to 170.

DeLawder — a two-time All-American at 130 — might move down to 123 to make room for Baez-Dillone. 

The team filled its biggest hole with the addition of Garcia. King desperately needed a 191-pound and Garcia is an established veteran following her win at the 2023 National Junior Collegiate Championships. 

Moorman’s recruiting haul proves he’s serious about winning championships — now and in the future. His next move is deciding who will be will be in the lineup on a championship-caliber team. 

Is This King’s Court For The 2023-24 Season?

Placings at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in parenthesis

101 Pounds
Mia Zuniga, FR
Jessica Corredor, SO (6)
Avery Kibelbek, SO 

109 Pounds
Sage Mortimer, JR (3-2)
Dianna Holmes, JR (3)

116 Pounds
Samara Chavez, JR (3-2)
Danielle Garcia, SR (5-4)
Melonie Mendoza, JR

123 Pounds
Virginia Foard, FR
Montana DeLawder, JR (7-4)

130 Pounds
Victoria Baez-Dillone, SO
Anna DiCugno, FR

136 Pounds
Claire DiCugno, SO (6)

143 Pounds
Aine Drury, SO
Yasmine Oliveria, SO 

155 Pounds
Cheyenne Bowman, JR (5-2)

170 Pounds
Tiffani Baublitz, JR (7-3)

191 Pounds
Alexa Garcia, SO