Townsend Saunders

Townsend Saunders
Personal information
BornApril 20, 1967 (1967-04-20) (age 57)
White Sands, New Mexico, U.S.
Home townTorrance, California, U.S.
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamArizona State
Cal State Bakersfield
ClubSunkist Kids Wrestling Club
TeamUSA
Coached byBobby Douglas
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 68 kg
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1991 Havana 68 kg
Gold medal – first place 1995 Mar del Plata 68 kg
Goodwill Games
Gold medal – first place 1994 Saint Petersburg 68 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Arizona State Sun Devils
NCAA Division I Championships
Silver medal – second place 1989 Oklahoma City 142 lb
Bronze medal – third place 1990 College Park 150 lb
Representing the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
NCAA Division II Championships
Gold medal – first place 1987 Edwardsville 142 lb

Townsend Saunders (born April 20, 1967) is an Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling.[1] Collegiately, Saunders was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at Arizona State University and an NCAA Division II National Champion for California State University-Bakersfield. Townsend was also a Goodwill Games gold medalist in 1994 and won two Pan American Games gold medals in 1991 and 1995.

Biography

Saunders was born in White Sands, New Mexico. Known in college as "Junior" Saunders,[2] he adopted his given name in international competition. In 1985, he was a California State runner-up while wrestling for Torrance High School in Torrance, California. Townsend Saunders has also competed in mixed martial arts for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, at UFC 16 and UFC 18.

Saunders is married to Tricia Saunders, a four-time FILA World Champion in women's freestyle wrestling, and is the father of three children.

In 2019, Saunders was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.[3]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches 0 wins 2 losses
By decision 0 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0–2 Mikey Burnett Decision (unanimous) UFC 18 January 8, 1999 1 15:00 Kenner, Louisiana, United States
Loss 0–1 Pat Miletich Decision (split) UFC 16 March 13, 1998 1 15:00 Kenner, Louisiana, United States MMA Debut.

Submission grappling record

Result Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Notes
Win Brazil Andre Pederneiras Decision The Contenders 1997 5 5:00

References

  1. ^ Dan, Gable (1998-12-01). Coaching Wrestling Successfully. Human Kinetics. ISBN 978-0-87322-404-8.
  2. ^ Rowe, Reginald E. (2016-05-09). The Golden Era of Amateur Wrestling: 1980S. Archway Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4808-2963-3.
  3. ^ Townsend Saunders. National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 18, 2022.


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