All-American Heavyweight Tate Orndorff Transfers To Ohio State

Tate Orndorff, an All-American heavyweight, signed with Ohio State wrestling after competing for three years at Utah Valley. 

The Spokane, Wash., native earned 2020 NWCA First Team All-American accolades and has two seasons of eligibility remaining as a redshirt junior for the 2020-21 campaign.

Orndorff boasts a 44-13 collegiate record entering Ohio State. The All-American heavyweight was at his best as a redshirt sophomore in 2019-20, posting an 18-4 record, including a 10-4 ledger against top-25 opponents.

He was prepared to be the eighth-seeded heavyweight at the NCAA Championships before the season abruptly ended due to COVID-19. Orndorff spent his entire season in the national rankings, reaching as high as No. 3.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018-19, Orndorff also qualified for the NCAA Championships, ending the season with a 26-9 record, including a 14-4 mark in duals. He earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships after placing third among heavyweights at the Big 12 Championship with a 3-1 ledger.

Orndorff entered the 2019 national tournament as the No. 15-seeded heavyweight, and went 2-2 in the tournament with his wins against No. 17 David Jensen of Nebraska and No. 18 Joey Goodhart of Drexel.

In addition to his success in the championship tourney, Orndorff excelled at an event that the Buckeyes are quite familiar with in the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite. He had the second-best finish in Utah Valley history when he took second place among heavyweights as a redshirt freshman with a 5-1 showing.

The powerful heavyweight from Spokane finished the 2018-19 season ranked No. 13 on the final RPI and No. 16 on the NCAA Coaches’ Panel ranking, climbing as high as No. 9 by InterMat and the Coaches’ Panel ranking. 

Orndorff won seven matches against ranked opponents as a redshirt freshman in No. 8 Thomas Haines of Lock Haven, No. 17 David Jensen of Nebraska, No. 18 Joey Goodhart of Drexel, No. 25 Brian Andrews of Wyoming (twice), No. 30 Brandon Ngati of West Virginia and No. 32 Brandon Ngati of West Virginia .

The two-time national qualifier has enjoyed success outside of Utah Valley as well, winning the U23 Greco World Team Trials to earn a spot at the 2019 UWW World Greco Championships. 

After winning two state titles and being named a First Team USA Wrestling Senior All-American at Spokane Valley (Wash.) University High School, Orndorff redshirted the 2017-18 season with a 15-6 record in unattached events. 

 In addition to being a successful wrestler, Orndorff excels in the classroom as well, earning NWCA Scholar All-American and First Team Academic All-Big Ten honors.

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