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M/SUNNY Temp: 65 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 18, 2003 Oregon duo left undeniable mark in wrestling history By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune While Fred Fozzard is looking forward to reuniting with his peers for next month’s "Wrestling Legends" festivities, there will be at least one unfortunate absence. In wrestling circles, Fozzard will be forever linked with fellow Oregonian Rick Sanders. As high school stars in Portland, the duo combined for five state championships. They took separate paths in college — Fozzard to Oklahoma State and Sanders to Portland State — but wound up together again at the NCAA Championships and combined for three titles. Advertisement It seemed only fitting for the standouts to team up once again at the 1969 World Championships in Argentina. Wrestling at 114.5 pounds, Sanders became the first American to win a world title. A few hours later, Fozzard became the second with his win at 180.5 pounds. "How strange was that to have the first two champions come from Oregon?" says Fozzard, 58. It certainly wasn’t a thought six years prior, when Fozzard and Sanders went overseas on a cultural exchange trip to Japan. "For a high school kid on a cultural exchange like that," Fozzard recalls, "it was just a tremendous learning experience." The 1963 trip came on the heels of Sanders winning his third straight state wrestling title for Lincoln High, and Fozzard claiming his first of two for Marshall High. They exchanged wrestling tips and tales and soaked in life overseas, not knowing how successful their next international venture together would be. "I knew he was going to be a good one," says Fozzard, "and basically in my heart, I knew I was going to be a good one, too. We knew we’d get somewhere (in wrestling), but we didn’t have any idea how far until it happened (in 1969)." The two friends splintered off once again following the World Championships, with Fozzard battling through injuries to claim U.S. senior freestyle titles in 1970 and 1972. He had hoped to go to the Olympics in 1972 but poor health, a lack of prosperity on the mat and a young family kept him away. Sanders more than kept up the good Oregon name in Fozzard’s stead, capturing silver medals at the 1968 and ‘72 Olympics. Of the 11 Olympic matches he won, nine were by fall. Tragically, the 1972 silver medal would be Sanders’ last wrestling award as he was killed in an automobile accident while touring Europe after the Olympic Games. "I sure miss that little guy," says Fozzard. "He was a free spirit. I compared him at that time to Dan Gable. He was the first one who excelled like that and was a conditioned wrestler. That’s where he won his matches, just pounding and pounding and pounding until he wore you out." In his meteoric career, Sanders posted an 80-1 record in high school, won collegiate titles at three levels (NAIA, NCAA Div. II, NCAA Div. I), five national freestyle crowns and six international medals. At Portland State, Sanders’ record was 103-2, his losses coming in the 1966 NCAA Div. II semifinals and the 1968 NCAA Div. I finals. Sanders was one of only five wrestlers to ever beat Gable, with the Portland product scoring a 6-0 decision for the only shutout defeat of the Iowan’s storied career. Gable went 181-1 in high school and at Iowa State University. Widely considered the best wrestler to step onto the mat at any level, Gable was an Olympic teammate of Sanders’ and credits the Oregonian for much of his success, thanks to lessons learned during their workouts at an Olympic tryout camp in 1968. "Sanders taught me the effective use of arm bars to pin guys with," Gable said in a 1981 interview with the Des Moines Register. "I was a sophomore then and pinned my opponents about 50 percent of the time. "But from there on, I pinned something like 60 of the last 65 guys I faced in college." Sanders received wrestling’s highest honor in 1987 when he was enshrined into the USA National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times