A plausible and sound argument can be made that Jason Moorman has had the best coaching career in the 20-year history of women’s college wrestling. 

Multiple national team titles. Check.

Multiple National Duals titles. Check.

Multiple Olympians. Check.

Olympic gold medalist. Check. 

Year in and year out, King University — a tiny Division II school in Bristol, Tennessee — shows up when it matters most. Moorman-led teams have finished in the top five in 13 of the past 14 national tournaments, including four WCWA titles. 

In 2016, Haley Augello became the first Olympian in program history followed by Sarah Hildebrandt’s 2020 bronze and 2024 gold. 

Jason Moorman is the King of Consistency. And he has the high-level results to back it up. 

“I get the opportunity to help a group of strong women to be the best they can be in this sport and influence their lives positively,” Moorman said. “These young women will only experience being 18 to 23 once and they chose to spend the majority of that part of their lives at King.  It’s an incredible blessing, and I am extremely grateful.  My goal is to not let them down — and that keeps me driven.”

The King Of Consistency: Jason Moorman

There’s no talent shortage as the Tornado begins its 2024-25 campaign. Claire DiCugno is the lone returning national champion on a team with 13 NCWWC All-Americans and 14 qualifiers. Iowa is the prohibitive favorite, but there’s every reason to believe King can improve on last year’s third-place finish. 

Keep an eye on possible line-up changes throughout the year now that all 10 weights have changed. Three-time All-American Samara Chavez started her career at 109, moved to 116 for two seasons, and will move down to 110. All-American Dianna Holmes joins Chavez after missing last season with an injury. 

Victoria Baez-Dilone was a national finalist at 130 pounds but competed at 53 kg (116 pounds) and 55 kg (121) for Spain during the off-season. She may move down to 124, creating a log jam with three-time All-American Montana DeLawder and national finalist Virginia Foard, who might redshirt. 

Jennifer Soto is planning to redshirt but might compete if Baez-Dilone moves down. 

High school star Clare Booe joins three-time All-American Melanie Mendoza at 117, DiCugno will start at 138, and national finalists Aine Drury and Cheyenne Bowman will fit in at 145 and 160, respectively. 

All-American Alexa Garcia will move down to 180 from 191 and Isabella Calle, a California Community College national champ for East Los Angeles, is at 207. 

“We have some depth and we have numbers in our upper weights, which is good,” Moorman said. A lot of the girls have come back from their summer in shape and look good. 

“They understand that a season doesn’t start in September and ends in March. A season is year-round. They took that to the bank. We don’t have a lot of catching up to do. We’re just going to try and get better.”

Moorman better take advantage of his depth. Each team can qualify up to 15 wrestlers for the national championships for one more season. Women's college wrestling could experience a shift if it becomes officially sanctioned by the NCAA.

Profile Of A King

Head coach: Jason Moorman
2024 NCWWC finish: 3rd
2024 NCWWC tournament points: 163
2024 NCAA tournament record: 53-23
2024 dual record: 9-2
Returning NCWWC qualifiers: 15
Returning NCWWC All-Americans:14
Last NCWWC champion: Claire DiGugno (2024)
Highest national team finish: 1st (WCWA 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Highest national team finish under Morman: 1st (WCWA 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

King University 2024-25 Line-Up

103 Pounds
Avery Kibelbek
2024 NCWWC: 7th at 101

Jessica Corredor
2022 NAIA: 8th at 109 (Missouri Baptist)
2023 NCWWC: 6th at 101

Mia Zuniga
2024: 12-3 record (injured on Jan. 14, 2024, at Tornado Open)

110 Pounds  
Samara Chavez
2022 NCWWC: 3rd at 109
2023 NCWWC: 2nd at 116
2024 NCWWC: 3rd at 116

Dianna Holmes
2023 NCWWC: 3rd at 109

117 Pounds
Melanie Mendoza
2021 NCWWC: 5th at 116
2022 NCWWC: 6th at 123
2024 NCWWC: 5th at 116

Clare Booe
#14 P4P High School Recruit

124 Pounds
Virginia Foard
2024 NCWWC: 2nd at 123

Montana DeLawder
2022 NCWWC: 7th at 130
2023 NCWWC: 4th at 130
2024 NCWWC: 3rd at 123

131 Pounds
Victoria Baez-Dilone
2022 NJCAA: 1st at 130 (Umpqua CC)
2023 NJCAA: 1st at 130 (Umpqua CC)
2024 NCWWC: 2nd at 130

Jennifer Soto
2023 NCWWC: 4th at 123 (McKendree)

Anna DiCugno
2024 NCWWC: DNP, 1-2

138 Pounds
Claire DiGugno
2022 NCWWC: 6th at 130 (Colorado Mesa)
2024 NCWWC: 1st at 136

145 Pounds
Aine Drury
2023 CCCAA: 1st at 148 (Cerritos)
2024 NCWWC: 2nd at 143

Yasmine Oliveira
2024 NCWWC: 6th at 143

160 Pounds
Cheyenne Bowman
2022 NCWWC: 5th at 170
2023 NCWWC: 2nd at 170
2024 NCWWC: 2nd at 155

180 Pounds
Alexa Garcia
2022 NJCAA: 3rd at 191 (SW Oregon CC)
2023 NJCAA: 1st at 191 (SW Oregon CC)
2024 NCWWC: 4th at 191

207 Pounds
Isabella Calle
2023 CCCAA: 1st at 220 pounds (East Los Angeles)