STILLWATER, Okla. – Arizona State Wrestling's Townsend Saunders will be inducted as part of the 2019 National Wrestling Hall of Fame class as a Distinguished Member, announced by the NWHOF on Monday.
Saunders was a two-time Pac-10 champion and two-time All-American at ASU, finishing second (142 lbs) in 1989 and third (150 lbs) in 1990. Saunders amassed a 77-9 record at ASU, including 40 wins in 1988-89.
On the international scene, he won a silver medal at 149.5 lbs at the 1996 Olympics after finishing seventh in 1992. He won a gold medal at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games and competed in six World Championships. He also won a gold medal at the 1995 Goodwill Games and won the 1991 and 1996 U.S. Open National Freestyle Championships.
Saunders returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach from 2001-03 and, as a coach, coached the U.S. women's team to seven medals in seven weights (gold, four silver, two bronze) at the 2003 World Championships. He was named 2004 USA Wrestling Coach of the Year as he coached the U.S. Women at the Olympics that year, the first time women's wrestling was an Olympic sport.
A 2011 Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame honoree, he was named to the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013.
Saunders is married to Tricia Saunders, who was the first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2006, making them the first husband and wife to be named Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame.
Other previously inducted Distinguished Members with ASU ties include Art Martori (1999) and head coach Zeke Jones (2005). National Wrestling Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith previously coached the Sun Devils.
"The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to honor these individuals in our Class of 2019," said Smith. "These individuals were selected because of their extraordinary accomplishments in the sport of wrestling, and their induction into the Hall of Fame will serve as a perpetual reminder of their dedication and contributions to the sport."
The Hall of Fame Board of Governors approved the selections at their recent annual meetings and the induction ceremony will take place as part of the 43rd Annual Honors Weekend May 31-June 1, 2019 in Stillwater, Okla. For more information, call (405) 377-5243 or visit www.nwhof.org.
Saunders was a two-time Pac-10 champion and two-time All-American at ASU, finishing second (142 lbs) in 1989 and third (150 lbs) in 1990. Saunders amassed a 77-9 record at ASU, including 40 wins in 1988-89.
On the international scene, he won a silver medal at 149.5 lbs at the 1996 Olympics after finishing seventh in 1992. He won a gold medal at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games and competed in six World Championships. He also won a gold medal at the 1995 Goodwill Games and won the 1991 and 1996 U.S. Open National Freestyle Championships.
Saunders returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach from 2001-03 and, as a coach, coached the U.S. women's team to seven medals in seven weights (gold, four silver, two bronze) at the 2003 World Championships. He was named 2004 USA Wrestling Coach of the Year as he coached the U.S. Women at the Olympics that year, the first time women's wrestling was an Olympic sport.
A 2011 Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame honoree, he was named to the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013.
Saunders is married to Tricia Saunders, who was the first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2006, making them the first husband and wife to be named Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame.
Other previously inducted Distinguished Members with ASU ties include Art Martori (1999) and head coach Zeke Jones (2005). National Wrestling Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith previously coached the Sun Devils.
"The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to honor these individuals in our Class of 2019," said Smith. "These individuals were selected because of their extraordinary accomplishments in the sport of wrestling, and their induction into the Hall of Fame will serve as a perpetual reminder of their dedication and contributions to the sport."
The Hall of Fame Board of Governors approved the selections at their recent annual meetings and the induction ceremony will take place as part of the 43rd Annual Honors Weekend May 31-June 1, 2019 in Stillwater, Okla. For more information, call (405) 377-5243 or visit www.nwhof.org.