Jacob Saunders has joined an elite fraternity of athletes by capturing the prestigious Trinity Award, a feat accomplished in the 15U division. As one of the younger competitors in the field, Saunders’ achievement echoes that of his older brother, Joshua, who claimed the same award in 2015 before becoming the nation’s No. 1 high school wrestling recruit. For Jacob, the accomplishment is more than just hardware. He’s already set his sights higher, saying he looks “forward to not only matching his brother’s accolades but also surpassing them.”
Saunders’ pursuit of the Trinity began at the Tulsa Kickoff Classic in the 89-pound division. Despite never having won the tournament before, he wrestled with poise and purpose. “My goal in this tournament and every tournament is not wrestling to win but wrestling to get better,” he explained. That mindset fueled a relentless training regimen—arriving early, staying late, and squeezing every ounce of value out of practice.
From his opening whistle, the discipline paid off. Saunders rolled through his early matches with technical falls, dispatching top wrestlers from Georgia and Michigan. He then toppled No. 2 seed Jaxon Sanchez of California in a 6-1 decision, shaking off an early technical violation before storming back with six points in the final period. In the semifinals, he overwhelmed Luke Loren of California with what coaches called “elite athleticism” and “positional dominance,” cruising to an 11-0 win.
The finals tested his resilience. Facing Michigan’s Brody Compau, who is widely regarded as the state’s best pound-for-pound middle schooler. Saunders fell behind 3-0 after a slick single-leg takedown. Then, something clicked. He stormed back with 10 unanswered points, dominating every scramble and position to secure the comeback victory. Standing atop the podium, Saunders had completed the first leg of his Trinity quest.
While his physical training is demanding, Saunders credits his mental preparation, grounded in faith, as the difference-maker. “When I deal with adversity, I focus on my faith in God, not the outcome, and I find strength in that,” he said.
That faith carried him into the Tulsa Nationals, where he rode his momentum to another finals appearance. After edging Colton Shultz of Illinois in a tight 8-6 semifinal, Saunders shut the door in the championship against Jaxon Morales of New Mexico. He stormed out to an early lead with a takedown and two near-fall sets, then sealed the win with a second-period pin. The second leg of the Trinity was his.
Back home, Saunders added to his résumé with a fourth consecutive Missouri USA state title, all while keeping his eyes on the final stage of the Trinity. Though nerves crept in, he found calm through faith. “My nerves drew me closer to God, and that gave me peace,” he explained.
With his mental game locked in, Saunders focused on the elements he could control. “My biggest competitor would be myself, focusing and staying disciplined, and maintaining weight,” he acknowledged. His self-assurance paid off in the final tournament, where he pinned every opponent in the first period and gave up only a single point. With that final victory, he officially joined the elite club of Trinity Award winners, a title few can claim, alongside his teammate Cayden Mango.
For Saunders, the Trinity is not just a testament to talent but to discipline, faith, and focus. “My biggest competitor would be myself, focusing and staying disciplined, and maintaining weight,” he explained.
In reflecting on his journey, Saunders was quick to credit his support system. He praised his father for his sacrifice and unwavering support and expressed gratitude to his coaches—Cornell Robinson, Paul Collum, Jason Moore, Marcus Hoehn, and Carolyn Webster for their guidance and mentorship.
Jacob Saunders’ story is more than a wrestling triumph. It’s a reminder that true success is built not only on physical skill but also on quiet discipline, deep faith, and the resolve to give everything in pursuit of a goal.
