Jason Moorman’s first year as King University’s head women’s wrestling coach didn’t end on a high note. His team finished 1-9 in duals and 10th out of 12 teams at the 2010 WCWA Championships — the end-of-year tournament for women’s college programs. 

Things took off from there.

The Tornado finished fourth, second, and third the next three seasons before winning the 2014 WCWA Championships by two points over Oklahoma City University in a nail-biter. Julia Salata’s 155-pound finals win clinched the first of four consecutive team championships (2014-2017).

King had 14 All-Americans and four national championships, including 2024 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt, two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan, and 2016 Olympian Haley Augello. 

There was also a memorable battle against Simon Fraser at the 2014 National Duals in Des Moines, Iowa. King won 21-19 in arguably the greatest women’s college dual ever wrestled. Future Olympic gold medalists Hildebrandt (King) and Helen Maroulis (Simon Fraser) were in the line-ups. 

Several team members flew back to Bristol, Tennessee, to celebrate the historic achievement. King University inducted the entire squad into its athletics hall of fame on Saturday, October 5. 

“The year that we won it, the growth had begun,” Moorman said. “When we started (women’s wrestling at King), the growth of women’s wrestling had happened.

“One of the things that I think about is what pioneers those women were in college. The majority of the women on our team didn’t wrestle on all-girls teams (in high school) like you’re seeing today. They were surviving tough high school rooms against boys and competing against boys. That’s one of the things I remember. It wasn’t as easy.”

Participation At Women's College National Championships Since 2014

Note: This graph represents the total number of teams participating in national tournaments, not the number of women's college wrestling programs. The number of teams in 2019 and 2020 doesn't equate since several programs competed in two tournaments. The NAIA started a tournament in 2019 but canceled in 2020 due to COVID. Some NCAA teams did not participate in the 2020 WCWA Championships, but several NAIA teams did. 

King Crowned As One Of The Best

How did King become a powerhouse program?

Moorman suggested adding the sport to the school’s president after he saw women’s wrestling for the first time at the 2008 National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was an assistant men’s coach with his brother and saw that Cumberlands had over 50 girls out. 

Here was Moorman's pitch: Imagine a current King student or an alum being an Olympian.’ The president was sold. 

King has had an Olympian in the past three cycles: Augello in 2016 and Hildebrandt in 2020 and 2024. 

“It took me the first year of coaching to realize what potential this had,” Moorman. “These women are not different than the men when it comes to what they deserve and training. They are just as driven and just as committed. 

“It changed me to where I told my brother that I’m an assistant coach but I’m going to focus on this and lift this thing off. Then I had to recruit the right people.”

The right people were in Bristol to celebrate an iconic women’s wrestling team.

“It’s a special group,” Moorman said. “They mean a lot to me. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for them. They’re pioneers. There’s no question about it.”

King won the 2014 National Duals and WCWA Championships

King’s 2014 WCWA Championships Line-up

101: Ashley Iliff — 5th
101: Shannon Constantine —  6th
109: Daisy Santos —  6th
116: Haley Augello — 1st (2016 Olympian)
123: Sarah Hildebrandt — 1st (2024 Olympic gold medalist, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, 4x World medalist)
123: Kayla Bartosch — 7th
130: Kayla Brendlinger — 6th
130: Megan Black —  7th
130: Katie Germain
130: Nicole Dalious
136: Alli Ragan — 1st (2x World silver medalist)
136: Hanna Martin
136: Stacy Martin
143: Amanda Hendey — 2nd
155: Julia Salata — 1st
170: Lorrie-Ann Ramos — 5th
170: Kerri Bumpers — 3rd
191: Malexsis McAdoo — 2nd

2014 WCWA Championships — St. Louis, Missouri

1. King — 229
2. Oklahoma City — 227
3. Simon Fraser — 219
4. Lindenwood-St. Charles — 148
5. Wayland Baptist — 132
6. Campbellsville — 112
7. Jamestown — 88
8. Cumberlands — 74
9. Missouri Baptist — 72
10. Midland — 44
11. McKendree — 35
12. Waldorf — 35
T13. Menlo — 34
T13. Northwest Kansas Tech — 34
15. Missouri Valley — 30
16. Southwestern Oregon CC — 20
17. Pacific — 3
18. Lindenwood-Belleville — 0

2014 NWCA National Duals Final — Des Moines, Iowa

Score: King 21, Simon Fraser 19
101: Darby Huckle (Simon Fraser) over Shannon Constantine (King) Dec 6-0
109: Victoria Anthony (Simon Fraser) over Samantha Klingel (King) Fall 0:47
116: Haley Augello (King) over Nikkie Brar (Simon Fraser) TF 11-0
123: Sarah Hildebrandt (King) over Laura Anderson (Simon Fraser) TF 10-0
130: Helen Maroulis (Simon Fraser) over Kayla Brendlinger (King) TF 10-0
136: Alli Ragan (King) over Mallory Velte (Simon Fraser) TF 10-0
143: Amanda Hendey (King) over Maegan Kuruvita (Simon Fraser) Fall 1:39
155: Julia Salata (King) over Monika Podgoski (Simon Fraser) Dec 6-0
170: Justina Distasio (Simon Fraser) over Lorrie-ann Ramos (King) TF 10-0
191: Jenna McClatchy (Simon Fraser) over Malexsis Mcadoo (King) Dec 12-12