Townsend was nearly unstoppable Page 1B
While at Monache High School, Don Townsend became one of the more successful wrestlers in Monache’s history.
While at Monache High School, Don Townsend became one of the more successful wrestlers in Monache’s history.
He is a member of the second class of athletes and coaches being inducted in to the Monache High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 24.
Don Townsend grew up around wrestling since both of his brothers were wrestlers. At a young age, Townsend began competing in freestyle wrestling tournaments, winning a gold medal at the Clovis “Open” Invitational in 1978 as an eighthgrader. He entered Monache in 1978 being a two-sport athlete in football and wrestling, but as an upperclassman focused his efforts on wrestling.
As a freshman wrestling at the varsity level, he placed fourth in the East Yosemite League and was a Yosemite Divisional qualifier at 120 pounds.
In his sophomore campaign, Townsend claimed championships in the East Yosemite League and Redwood tournaments. He finished the year placing fourth at Yosemite Divisionals, fourth at the Valley championships and was an alternate State qualifier at 138 pounds.
His junior year proved to be another great one as he earned championships at the East Yosemite League Tournament, Redwood Tournament and the Bakersfield Quad. He went on to place third at Yosemite Divisionals, third at the Valley championships and was a State qualifier at 145 pounds finishing the year with a 31-5 record.
To cap off his career at Monache, Townsend accrued several awards including East Yosemite League champion, Redwood Tournament champion, Bakersfield Quad champion and Most Valuable Middle Weight Award Winner and third at the Clovis Invitational.
He was the Yosemite Divisional champion and Valley champion with his senior season culminating in a 48-2 record and runner-up finish at the State championships at 155 pounds. As a senior, he was a co-captain for his team, was awarded the Most Valuable Wrestler and earned the Outstanding Male Senior Athlete award.
Townsend earned an athletic scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he redshirted his freshman year then earned a spot on the travel squad before suffering a career-ending knee injury. Prior to attending Cal Poly, he competed in several freestyle tournaments and participated in a sports-cultural exchange tour to the Pacific Northwest where he went 7-0.
After returning to Porterville and working as an Energy Analyst, he joined the Monache wrestling coaching staff and assisted in coaching his alma matter from 1998-2011. He has a son, Drew, 21, and in 2015 married Marauders alum Valerie (Cowan) Townsend in Hawaii.
The second annual Monache Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 24, at River Island Country Club in Springville. A no-host cocktail hour will begin at 5 p.m, dinner will begin at 6 p.m., with the Induction ceremony to follow. Inductees for 2018 will be: Jesus Guzman 1968-1972, (cross country, basketball, baseball), Kim (Goodin) Rafanan 1974-1978, (volleyball, basketball, softball), Jim Short 1977-1981, (football, wrestling, baseball) Don Townsend 1978-1982 (football, wrestling), Coach Rick Vafeades 1970-2005 (cross country, basketball, baseball, track and field), and the 1991 Valley Champion Monache baseball team.