King University Women's Softball

Somoza returned to his alma mater in November of of 2022 to lead the Tornado to five all-conference swims in his first season. Athlete Honors - Men 4 Conference Carolinas champions 11 All-Conference Carolinas swims 1 Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year 6 Academic All-Conference Carolinas honorees 4 Conference Carolinas Swimmer of the Week 4 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections King Highlights 1 CSCAA Scholar All-America Team award Earned first career win on January 20, defeating Emory & Henry Conference Carolinas Finishes 2023-24 - 5th 2022-23 - 6th Year-by-Year Season Recaps 2023-24: The Tornado finished the season 6-6 overall, their best record of the Juan Somoza era. The Tornado crowned a pair of Conference Carolinas champions in Efe Ertuzun (400 yard IM) and Jean Ducastel (100 back, 200 back). After the season, Sam Osowiecki and Carson Eliasen were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District, the second straight year that Osowiecki eanred academic all-district honors. 2022-23: The Tornado finished sixth at the Conference Carolinas Championships as the Tornado were led by all-conference finishes from the 400 yard freestyle relay, the 800 free style relay and Sam Osowiecki in the 1000 yard freestyle. Dale Bruce was selected Conference Carolinas Scholar Athlete of the Year for men's swimming, the first Tornado in program his to earn this distinction. Osowiecki and Gideon Bezuidenhout both earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District. Athlete Honors - Women 4 All-Conference Carolinas swims 9 Academic All-Conference Carolinas honorees 1 Conference Carolinas Swimmer of the Week 6 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections King Highlights 1 CSCAA Scholar All-America Team award Earned first career win on January 28, defeating Mars Hill Conference Carolinas Finishes 2023-24 - 6th 2022-23 - 5th Year-by-Year Season Recaps 2023-24: King had three dual wins on the season, including a 53-42 win over Lees-McRae to close the regular season. At the conference championships, the Tornado had one all-conference finish, courtesy of Katie Koenst, who earned the honors in the 400 yard IM. Following the season, Abbie Erme, Gwen Haag and Fanny Legros were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District.  2022-23: King finished fifth at the Conference Carolinas Championships behind three All-Conference Carolinas swims from Cassie Lowe. She finished third in the 500 yard freestyle, 100 yard backstroke and 200 yard backstroke. Abbie Erme, Gwen Haag and Michelle Morlock all earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors. Prior to King After graduating from King, Somoza spent two seasons at Delta State University as a graduate assistant coach, while earning his master's degree. During his tenure at Delta State, the program produced five individual national champions, and both the men's and women's programs finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships in 2021. Personal Somoza graduated from King in three years, earning a Bachelor of Art in Business and Sport Management in 2019, and earned his master's degree in Business Administration from Delta State University in 2021. In the pool, Somoza remains one of the most successful swimmers in program history, having broken 15 different school records during his career, both individually and as a member of various relay teams. Five of those records remained when he graduated, and his times in the 200 yard backstroke, 100 yard individual medley, and 200 yard individual medley still stand today. He's also one of the most versatile swimmers in program history, breaking school records in freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and individual medley during his career. On the conference level, Somoza was a five-time All-Conference Carolinas performer, and a conference champion in 2019 in the 200 yard individual medley. Prior to coming to King, Somoza experienced tremendous success in his home country of Mexico. He competed in the Mexican National Championships on five occasions, as well as the Mexican Olympic Trials and World Championship Trials qualifiers in 2015 and 2016.

Shade joined the Tornado staff prior to the 2023-24 season. Year-by-Year Coaching Records ATHLETE HONORS 2 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships qualifiers 1 All-Conference Carolinas selection 8 Super Region II placers King Highlights First career win came Nov. 8, 2023, a 23-22 win over #18 Belmont Abbey Year-By-Year Season Recaps 2023-24: In his first season, Shade led the Tornado to a 9-7 overall record, and a fourth-place finish at the inaugural Conference Carolinas dual championships. After earning his first career win Nov. 8 in a dual against Belmont Abbey, the Tornado would drop just three conference matches. The Tornado had two NCAA Division II national qualifiers in Ethan Lopez and Franky Medina Prior to King Shade served as the head coach at Bluefield State University for three years prior to coming to Bristol. He was the first head coach in the history of the men’s wrestling program as the school launched the program in 2020, first competing in 2021-22. Under Shade’s tutelage, the Big Blue had two Super Region III placers in just their second season. In the classroom, one individual earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-America honors last season. Along with starting the program at Bluefield State, Shade helped design a wrestling room and weight room for the student-athletes. Prior to his time in Bluefield, Shade spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, UNC Pembroke. He helped guide the Braves to the 2020 Super Region II championship and two South Atlantic Conference Carolinas (SACC) titles. The Braves had six individuals garner All-America honors in that time along with 18 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships qualifiers. UNC Pembroke also had 21 NWCA Academic All-America honorees in those three years. While serving as an assistant coach at UNC Pembroke, Shade also was the head coach for the North Carolina Pride Wrestling Club. He developed practice schedules and oversaw the development of wrestlers ages 4-18. The development came in the weight room, in conditioning and in nutrition. Personal Shade graduated from UNC Pembroke in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology while wrestling for the Braves. He was a four-time NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships qualifier and three time All-American. Shade was a national finalist in 2016 and 2017 and was selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Wrestler of the Year in 2016.

After being hired as the assistant acrobatics & tumbling coach, Kendra Rabo (pronounced RAY-bow), was promoted in May 2024 to be the head cheer and dance coach. Prior to King She was a member of the inaugural team at Frostburg State, competing for the Bobcats in their first three seasons. As a base and a tumbler, Rabo helped increase the Bobcat win total each season, culminating in a 10-win season in 2023 that saw the Bobcats win the Mountain East Conference. Frostburg State also qualified for the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championship for the first time, falling to second-ranked University of Oregon. Personal Rabo graduated from Frostburg State in three years with a degree in accounting and a minor in business administration.  

Taylor Graalman was named the head coach of the King University men's and women's tennis programs in July 2024.  Graalman comes to King from nearby Milligan University, where he has been the head tennis coach after previously being an assistant coach and four-year captain for the Buffaloes. In addition to coaching at Milligan, Graalmann has worked at the Roton Point Tennis and Sailing Club as an assistant tennis coach, while also working at the Dale Short Tennis Academy and the Richland Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. Graalman currently ranks fifth in Milligan history in singles wins (24) and doubles wins (29), and was named to the NAIA Scholar-Athlete team as a senior. In his three seasons as coaching at Milligan, his teams combined for a total of 59 wins, finishing as high as fourth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Graalman was a five-time state semifinalist at Siegel High School, serving as the captain and winning the 3AAA Male Player of the Year award in 2015. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2020 from Milligan, before earning his Master of Education in Dec. 2021.  

Payne was named head coach in July of 2022, a season after serving as an assistant coach for the Tornado. In her first season as head coach, Payne guided the Tornado to a regular season conference title and NCAA Southeast Regional appearance. As an assistant, she helped guide the Tornado Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament titles in 2022. That season the Tornado set numerous school records and qualified for the NCAA Southeast Regional for the third time in program history. Year-By-Year Coaching Records Athlete Honors 1 NFCA All-America selection 1 D2CCA All-America selection 2 D2CCA All-Southeast Region selections 3 NFCA All-Southeast Region selections 5 All-Conference Carolinas selections 3 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament honorees 2 Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team selections 5 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honorees 14 Academic All-Conference Carolinas honorees 3 Conference Carolinas Players of the Week 2 Conference Carolinas Pitchers of the Week 1 Tennessee Sports Writers Association Players of the Week 2 Tennessee Sports Writers Association Pitchers of the Week King Highlights 2024 Conference Carolinas Northwest Division champions 2023 Conference Carolinas regular season champions 2022 Conference Carolinas Tournament runner-up 2023 NCAA Regional appearance, at large selection First career wins came on Sunday, February 12 over Florida Southern College at the University of North Georgia The 36 wins in 2023 are the second most in program history Year-By-Year Season Recaps (head coach) 2024: After dropping their first three games, things started to turn for the Tornado at Lincoln Memorial, where they rallied for a 11-10 victory, setting off a season where they would qualify for the Confernce Carolinas tournament once again, falling in the opening round to Barton. Not only did the Tornado win the inaugural Northwest Division title, but Tori Ryan was named first team All-Conference Carolinas, and second team NFCA All-Region. 2023: The Tornado played the most games in a season in program history, 60, and won the second most in program history, 36. King won the regular season Conference Carolinas crown for the second straight season and reached the NCAA Southeast Regional for the second straight year and fourth time in program history. The Tornado finished with a 36-24 record, going 16-6 in Conference Carolinas play and finishing as the tournament runner-up. Jessica Campbell set single season school records with a .480 batting average, .547 on base percentage, 70 runs scored, 94 hits and 147 total bases. She became the second player in program history to garner All-American honors from the NFCA and D2CCA, including the first Tornado to earn first team honors from the D2CCA. Along with Campbell, Madison Walter earned first team All-Region honors from the NFCA and second team honors from the D2CCA. Season school rankings as of 2023: first with 21 sacrifice flies, second with a .312 batting average, .382 on base percentage, 334 runs scored, 502 hits, 92 doubles, 46 home runs, 300 runs batted in, 752 total bases, 58 hit by pitch, with seven saves, with 297 strikeouts from pitchers, third with a .467 slugging percentage, 34 sacrifice hits, with 10 shutouts, fourth with 139 walks, with an opponent batting average of .275, fifth with 10 triples, 42 stolen bases. Walter also tossed the second seven inning no hitter in program history, defeating Concord 6-0 on March 7. Year-By-Year Season Recaps (assistant coach) 2022: King set school records for wins (42), conference wins (18), hits (503), doubles (119), home runs (63), slugging percentage (.509), runs scored (368), runs batted in (329) and total bases (835). The Tornado led all of NCAA Division II with 119 doubles, ranked 14th with 63 home runs and 18th with 503 hits. Rikkelle Miller became the first Tornado to be selected All-America by the NFCA and D2CCA. She was also the second Tornado to earn first team All-Southeast Region honors from the NFCA and the D2CCA. Erin Foster earned second team All-Region honors from the D2CCA. Miller, Foster and Carly Turner were selected first team All-Conference Carolinas while Nikole Counts and Peyton Day earned second team recognition. Miller and Samantha Helms were named to the Conference Carolinas All-Defensive team while Helms earned the Conference Carolinas Elite 23 Award. Following the Conference Carolinsa Softball Championship crown, Counts was named the tournament's MVP while Miller and Camryn Haag earned All-Tournament team honors. The duo of Counts and Haley Mullins combined for a no-hitter against Converse University on April 13. Prior to King Payne came to Bristol after spending two years as a graduate assistant coach at Lincoln Memorial. During those two years, Payne helped the Railsplitters to a record of 54-13, winning the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) regular season title and finishing as Southeast Regional runner-up in 2021. She served as an academic liaison for the Railsplitters and helped with all the on-field coaching, serving as the first base coach. She was also heavily involved on the recruiting side, helping bring players to campus and arranging campus tours. Prior to her time at Lincoln Memorial, Payne served as a graduate assistant coach at Wheeling University. Her coach career started during her playing career as she was a clinic director for Triple Crown Sports in 2018 and worked camps, primarily with the hitters and fielders from 2017-19. Personal She played two years at Purdue University Northwest where she was earned third team NFCA All-America honors as a first basemen. Payne was a two-time first team all-region selection and 2018 conference player of the year. Before arriving at Purdue University Northwest, Payne helped Kankakee Community College to a NJCAA national championship in 2015. In 2016, Payne was selected first team all-region and second team All-America. Payne graduated from Purdue University Northwest in 2018 with a degree in sociology before earning her Master of Business Administration from Lincoln Memorial in 2021.

Brett Lloyd joined King in August of 2025 as a Graduate Assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs. Lloyd comes to the Tornado after graduating from Lee University with a major in information systems and a minor in sports management. While at Lee, he served as the President of the men’s volleyball club team for two years which involved practice planning and coaching, coordinating schedules and tournaments, and obtaining sponsorship and fundraising. Lloyd also served as a practice player for the Flames women’s volleyball team. Outside of volleyball, Lloyd served as a front office intern with the Chattanooga Football Club assisting with marking, community relations, communications, partnerships, gameday operations, merchandise and administration. He also worked as an intern within Lee’s athletic department to assist with increasing student engagement.   Lloyd is currently pursuing his masters of business administration.

Maegan Henry is one of the most decorated athletes to come through the King women's track & field program and became an assistant coach following the completion of her career. Career at King Henry still holds five school records, two indoor and three outdoor. Her indoor records are in the shot put and weight throw while her outdoor records are in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. She was selected Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the year during the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2014 and was a two-time academic All-Conference Carolinas honoree. In 2014, Henry also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. She also was a 12-time USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region performer and a five-time Conference Carolinas Most Valuable Field Performer. Henry also garnered Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year honors in 2012. In her four year career, Henry earned All-Conference Carolinas honors 17 times.

Justin Newring '16, '17 returned to his alma mater in July, 2024 as the Assistant Track and Field Coach.  Newring returns to Bristol after serving as an assistant coach with the Lindsey Wilson College men's and women's track & field programs since 2022. While at Lindsey Wilson, he had athletes break 6 school records within the sprints and jumps, had several Mid-South Conference champions, 14 Top 3 finishers in the MSC Conference Championships, had athletes achieve over 20 NAIA National qualifier marks, and coached a 2x All-American in the heptathlon. Newring also coached at King University as a graduate assistant upon completing his bachelor's degree in sports management from King in 2016 and earning his master's in 2017. During that coaching stint, Newring coached 2x All-American Vincent Okot. As a student-athlete at King, Newring was a 14-time USATFCCCA All-Southeast Region member, nine-time first-team All-Conference Carolinas member and a five-time NCAA Divison II National Qualifier. Newring holds school records in indoor and outdoor 200 and 400-meter events as well as the 4x400 meter event.  

Jared Prough was added to the Tornado men's wrestling coaching staff in August 2024. A native of Olathe, Kan., Prough wrestled collegiately at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan., where he also got his bachelor's degree in Sports Management, with a minor in Psychology. After graduating, he spent time at Piper High School in Kansas City as an assistant wrestling coach, helping facilitate technique camps during the offseason. Prough also worked for the Greater Heights Wrestling Club in Kansas City.

Haley Price, an accomplished collegiate and high-school volleyball coach with a proven record of player development and program growth, joined the King University volleyball staff in January 2024. After two strong seasons leading the women’s program, Price was elevated to Director of Volleyball, taking over both the men’s and women’s programs beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. Price made an immediate impact in her first season at King, guiding the Tornado to an 11–12 overall record in 2024, highlighted by key victories over UNC Pembroke and Belmont Abbey. In 2025, she led King to a 13–16 record and a berth in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, where the Tornado defeated Mount Olive in the opening round before falling to North Greenville. Across her first two seasons, Price coached multiple All-Conference performers, establishing a strong foundation for sustained success. Prior to her arrival in Bristol, Price spent the 2023 season as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State University, contributing to player development, scouting, and program operations. Before ETSU, she served two seasons as an assistant coach at Cal State San Marcos, helping the Cougars compete in one of the most competitive conferences in NCAA Division II. During her tenure, the program recorded the highest team GPA in school history (3.599) and produced four All-Conference selections, two Academic All-Conference honorees, and two Student-Athletes of the Month. Price’s head-coaching experience includes leading Louisburg College in North Carolina, where she also served as assistant club director and head coach for NC Elite Volleyball Club. She began her coaching career in the Tri-Cities, guiding Tri-Cities Extreme Volleyball Club from 2017–20 and serving as head coach at Dobyns-Bennett High School from 2019–20. At Dobyns-Bennett, she led the Indians to a 38–10 record and a third-place finish at the TSSAA Championships, earning Big 6 District I AAA Coach of the Year honors while coaching multiple all-state, all-region, and all-conference athletes. As a player, Price competed as a libero/defensive specialist at Virginia Tech University from 2015–18 after earning all-state honors in Tennessee as a junior. Price graduated from Virginia Tech in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Neuroscience and is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Special Education from Liberty University. Last updated: 5/14/26