Julia Salata talks to her coach Travis Mercado at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Robbert Wijtman)BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Former Tornado women's wrestler has returned to her Alma Matter as head wrestling coach Jason Moorman announced the hire of Julia Salata earlier this week. Salata had an outstanding career wearing the scarlet and navy and returns to help lead the Tornado as a coach.
In her four years as a wrestler at King, Salata was a four-time Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) All-American, winning two national championships. The Canton, Michigan native finished fourth her freshman season at the WCWA National Championships before taking runner-up as a sophomore.
Her final two years as a Tornado may have been the best two, going undefeated and winning national titles in both her junior and senior seasons. Along with the individual success, Salata helped the Tornado to the first two of their three straight National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals championships.
"I am excited to return to the King wrestling program in a new role," Salata said. "I take a lot of pride in being an alum of such a great program, and I'm thrilled to return to this special team."
Outside of collegiate wrestling, Salata has been successful internationally as well. She has been a training partner for 2016 Olympian Adeline Gray and is a current U.S. Senior National Team member. In 2014 she was a U.S. World Team Trials runner-up and finished fourth in 2012 and 2016 at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She was a 2014 University World Championship bronze medalist and a two-time University National and University World Team member. Salata was a two-time Junior World Team member and a two-time Pan American Championships bronze medalist.
"I am excited to have Julia join our coaching staff, as a former King wrestle she understands what our program is about," said Moorman. "She has already brought some great ideas this year."
Off the mat, Salata interned for USA Wrestling, and later graduated from a pair of wrestling coaching courses, the NWCA Women's Leadership Academy and the United World Wrestling Level 1 International Coaching Course. Salata has been involved in wrestling in many different ways, including providing commentary and articles for Flowrestling on high school national championships and the U.S. Open.
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