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Saunderses finalists for U.S. wrestling job

Jeff Metcalfe
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 5, 2003 12:00 AM

Husband-wife Townsend and Tricia Saunders of Phoenix are among the finalists to be the first U.S. Olympic women's wrestling coach.

Women's wrestling makes its Olympic debut next year in Athens.

Tricia is the most decorated U.S. women's wrestler with four World Championships gold medals. She was coach of this year's Pan American team that swept four golds.

Townsend is a two-time freestyle Olympian who won a silver medal in Atlanta. He was head coach of this year's U.S. women's World team that placed second with seven medal winners. Saunders wrestled at Arizona State and was a Sun Devils assistant coach for two seasons. The Saunders have two children.

Other women's Olympic coaching finalists are Joe Corso, Tadaaki Hatta, Chris Horpel and Troy Steiner. Selection is expected by mid-December. The selection committee could chose co-head coaches as it did in freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"Townsend and I are both wanting to be part of getting the team to the top of the podium at the Olympics," Tricia said. "It's as exciting to be in the coaching capacity as it was being an athlete."

Townsend said: "We have a chance to make history. It's phenomenal that I was selected for a chance to be part of it. I'm hoping Trish and I both get on the staff and we can make it a family affair."

Former ASU coach Bobby Douglas and former ASU wrestler Zeke Jones are among five freestyle coaching finalists.

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