According to the Whispers, under Saunders Midyette’s “naïve exterior, there is hidden a boy of great determination whose naturally gifted athletic skills have risen to the top.” Arriving at Episcopal High School in 1954, Saunders quickly became a powerhouse on the varsity football team. As a starting fullback and co-alternate captain, “Midge” was the offensive workhorse for the Maroon. His legendary performance in the 1956 Woodberry Forest game — rushing for 110 yards on a special trap play in a 19-0 victory — cemented his stellar reputation. Under coaches Lee McLaughlin and Syd Walden, Saunders’ relentless blocking and key scoring drives helped define an outstanding era of EHS football.

Saunders was equally dominant on the basketball court, where Coach Allen Phillips praised him as “one of the finest products to ever turn out at The Hill.” As team captain and starting guard during the 1956-57 season, he was named to the Greater Washington D.C. All-Prep team. He set a historic EHS scoring record with 304 points, becoming the first player in School history to average more than 20 points per game, finishing with a 20.3 average. He continued his exceptional leadership as captain during his senior year, anchoring the team with a 13-point average.

Beyond his primary sports, Saunders was a highly versatile athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball, while also competing in track. His natural talent led former teammate Sandy Ainslie ’56, the School’s 10th headmaster, to enthusiastically endorse him for the Hall of Fame, calling him “as natural an athlete as I have ever seen.”