Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Salata Joins Wrestling Program as Director of Operations
August 26, 2022 | Wrestling
Continuing a career that has seen her compete in and coach wrestling over nearly the past two decades, Julia Salata has joined the Princeton wrestling program as the Tigers' Director of Operations.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Princeton Wrestling staff and community," Salata said. "Wrestling has been such an integral part of my life, and to remain involved in the sport in this new role is an incredible opportunity. Coach [Chris] Ayres has done an outstanding job developing this program into one of the best in the nation, and I am honored to be a part of it."
Salata has helped continue the growth of women's wrestling, including by serving as Senior Manager for Collegiate Women's Advancement for Wrestle Like a Girl, an organization that holds events and advocates for opportunities for women in the sport.
"To say we are excited that we are adding Julia to the Princeton staff is an understatement," Ayres said. "Princeton Wrestling has improved immensely in the last 10 years largely due to the fact that we try that we are innovative and try to stay a few steps ahead of our competition. Hiring Julia is another example of that."
Salata began wrestling in 2007 and went on to compete at King University, earning four WCWA All-American honors and was twice an undefeated national champion. After graduation, Salata was a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center from 2015 to 2016, serving as a training partner for Adeline Gray at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Salata won a U.S. Open title in 2018, a Pan American championship in 2019, was a member of the 2018 World Cup team, and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team trials in 2012, 2016 and 2021. Salata was a member of multiple U.S. national teams from 2013 through 2021.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Princeton Wrestling staff and community," Salata said. "Wrestling has been such an integral part of my life, and to remain involved in the sport in this new role is an incredible opportunity. Coach [Chris] Ayres has done an outstanding job developing this program into one of the best in the nation, and I am honored to be a part of it."
Salata has helped continue the growth of women's wrestling, including by serving as Senior Manager for Collegiate Women's Advancement for Wrestle Like a Girl, an organization that holds events and advocates for opportunities for women in the sport.
"To say we are excited that we are adding Julia to the Princeton staff is an understatement," Ayres said. "Princeton Wrestling has improved immensely in the last 10 years largely due to the fact that we try that we are innovative and try to stay a few steps ahead of our competition. Hiring Julia is another example of that."
Salata began wrestling in 2007 and went on to compete at King University, earning four WCWA All-American honors and was twice an undefeated national champion. After graduation, Salata was a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center from 2015 to 2016, serving as a training partner for Adeline Gray at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Salata won a U.S. Open title in 2018, a Pan American championship in 2019, was a member of the 2018 World Cup team, and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team trials in 2012, 2016 and 2021. Salata was a member of multiple U.S. national teams from 2013 through 2021.
Beginning her coaching career, Salata served as an assistant coach at King University from 2016 through 2021, helping to coach five individual national champions and more than 30 All-Americans, as well as a WCWA national championship team and an NWCA National Duals Championship team. Salata graduated from the NWCA Women's Leadership Academy, the United World Wrestling Level 1 Coaching Course, and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
A native of Canton, Mich., Salata resides in Princeton and is a 2015 graduate of King University, majoring in marketing and Spanish before adding an MBA from King in 2018 with a focus in human resource management.
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