OREM, Utah – Facing a 15-0 deficit after four matches, Utah Valley University wrestling won four of the final six bouts, but it wasn't enough as Air Force held on to defeat UVU, 22-14, in Big 12 Conference action on Thursday night at Lockhart Arena. 
 
All four of UVU's nationally ranked grapplers recorded wins on the evening for the Wolverines, as seniors Kimball Bastian (174 pounds) and Tanner Orndorff (197) both earned bonus-point victories, while junior Taylor LaMont (133) and sophomore Tate Orndorff (285) each won by decision. 
 
"I thought that our four ranked wrestlers went out and competed well. We work really hard on knowing where we want to go and having a purpose in each position, and those guys understand that and they went out and did that again tonight," head UVU coach Greg Williams said. "But our other guys have to rise to the occasion. We had some opportunities, but we just couldn't find a way late in the third period to turn those into wins. We've got to get better." 
 
In a tightly contested opening bout between UVU's Isaiah Delgado and AFA's Lenny Petersen at 141 pounds, the two found themselves deadlocked at 8-8 late in the third period. A locked hands call then gave Petersen at 9-8 lead, and the Air Force grappler later managed to record a reversal to seal the victory and give the Falcons an early 3-0 advantage.
 
The Academy then upped their lead to 15-0 with consecutive wins from Dylan Martinez (149), Trey Brisker (157), and No. 24 Randy Meneweather (165) after four matches.
 
The ninth-ranked senior Bastian then got UVU on the board with an 11-2 major decision over Cody Surratt to make it 15-4 on the team score. Bastian racked up four takedowns, a penalty point, an escape, and over 3:30 minutes of riding time en route to earning the bonus-point victory.
 
After the intermission, Air Force's Jake Thompson answered for the Falcons with a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over UVU's Ashton Seely at 184 pounds to make it 18-4. 
 
In the upper weights, the Orndorff brothers responded for the Wolverines with back-to-back wins to make it 18-11. Twentieth-ranked senior Tanner Orndorff started the spurt with a 13-2 major decision over Casey Jumps at 197 pounds. The three-time UVU NCAA qualifier racked up five takedowns, a pair of penalty points, and a riding time point on his way to securing the bonus-point win. Fourth-ranked sophomore heavyweight Tate Orndorff then followed with a 6-3 decision over Kayne Hutchison. In his first match in a couple of weeks, the 2019 UVU NCAA qualifier picked up a pair of takedowns, an escape, and a riding time point on his way to improving to 13-2 on the season. 
 
With two matches remaining, the Academy then managed to put the dual away with a 10-2 victory from No. 14 Sidney Flores over Josiah Nava at 125 pounds. 
 
In the final match of the night, the reigning Big 12 Conference Wrestler of the Week and 14th-ranked Taylor LaMont then capped the contest on a high note for the Wolverines with a 7-4 win over AFA's Jared Van Vleet. With the bout tied at 3-3 at the end of the first period, LaMont made his move with an escape and a takedown to take a 6-3 advantage. Van Vleet then worked an escape in the third, but LaMont added an addition riding time point to record his 10th win on the season.
 
UVU drops to 1-9 on the season and 0-6 in conference competition with the loss, while AFA improves to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 action. 
 
The contest marked the first of a current three-match conference homestand for the Wolverines. 
 
UVU will continue the homestand by hosting North Dakota State in Big 12 action on Monday Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. The Wolverines will then cap their home season by welcoming Northern Colorado to town on Feb. 14 for UVU's Senior Night. 
 
FINAL RESULTS
Air Force 22, Utah Valley 14
141: Lenny Petersen (AF) DEC Isaiah Delgado (UVU), 11-8
149: Dylan Martinez (AF) DEC Cameron Hunsaker (UVU), 9-6
157: Trey Brisker (AF) DEC Spencer Heywood (UVU), 6-3
165: #24 Randy Meneweather (AF) FALL Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 6:47
174: #9 Kimball Bastian (UVU) MD Cody Surratt (AF), 11-2
184: Jake Thompson (AF) DEC Ashton Seely (UVU), 6-3
197: #20 Tanner Orndorff (UVU) MD Casey Jumps (AF), 13-2
285: #4 Tate Orndorff (UVU) DEC Kayne Hutchison (AF), 6-3
125: #14 Sidney Flores (AF) MD Josiah Nava (UVU), 10-2
133: #14 Taylor LaMont (UVU) DEC Jared Van Vleet (AF), 7-4
 
Orem, Utah - Lockhart Arena
Officials: Carlus Mansel, Don Christensen
Attendance: 1,103