TULSA, Okla. – Top-seeded heavyweight Tate Orndorff advanced to the semifinal round to lead the way for Utah Valley University wrestling at opening session at the 2020 Big 12 Championship at the BOK Center in Tulsa. 
 
After receiving an opening-round bye, the No. 1 seed and fourth-ranked UVU heavyweight Tate Orndorff recorded a dominant 11-3 major decision win over South Dakota State's Blake Wolters to move on to the semis. The 2019 UVU NCAA qualifier jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with a first-period takedown and a four-point nearfall. He later added a pair of takedowns and riding time to earn the bonus-point victory. Orndorff improves to 17-2 on the year and will face the No. 5 seed and 17th-ranked Brian Andrews of Wyoming on Saturday evening in the tournament's second session. 
 
Senior Tanner Orndorff and freshman Cameron Hunsaker also picked up wins for UVU in session one. 
 
In his opening bout, the three-time NCAA qualifier and sixth-seeded Tanner Orndorff (197) looked strong by recording a third period fall over Air Force's Casey Jumps to move to the quarterfinals (5:54). Holding to a 5-0 lead and in the top position the 21st-ranked Tanner Orndorff managed to roll Jumps to his back and pin him to seal the victory. The senior Tanner Orndorff then moved on to face the No. 3 seed and 15th-ranked Jake Woodley of Oklahoma in the quarters. After a scoreless opening period, Woodley took control with an escape and takedown to hold a 3-0 advantage after two. Tanner Orndorff then picked up a pair of late escapes but couldn't overcome the early deficit as he fell by a score of 6-2 to head to the wrestlebacks. 
 
After receiving a first-round bye, the top-seeded and 10th-ranked Taylor LaMont (133) got off to a strong start by taking a quick 4-1 lead over the No. 8 seed and 20th-ranked Mosha Schwartz of Northern Colorado in the first period. Schwartz then responded with a pair of escapes and a go-ahead takedown in the second period to take a 5-4 lead. Schwartz then did a nice job of fighting off a number of LaMont shots in the final stanza en route to earning the upset and pulling out a 6-4 decision to send the UVU 2018 NCAA qualifier to the wrestlebacks. 
 
Also opening in the quarterfinals on the day, the fourth-seeded and eighth-ranked Kimball Bastian (174) found himself matched up against two-time All-American and fifth-seeded Joe Smith of Oklahoma State in his first bout. Tied at an escape apiece and headed for sudden victory, the 15th-ranked Smith of OK State then managed to pick Bastian's legs on the edge of the mat to secure the winning takedown and earn a 3-1 overtime victory to send Bastian to the consolation rounds.  
 
After falling 1-0 earlier in the season to his opening opponent, the freshman Hunsaker (149) avenged the tight regular season loss by pinning the No. 8 seed Jaron Jensen from Wyoming in 3:52. Scoreless in the second period and Hunsaker in the top position, the Wolverine freshman managed to throw Jensen square on his back and quickly pin him to record the opening-round victory. Then in the quarters against the top seeded and fifth-ranked Boo Lewallen of Oklahoma State, Hunsaker dropped a 15-0 technical fall contest to finish with a 1-1 outing in the session and head to the consolation rounds. 
 
Five other Wolverines also find themselves in the consolation rounds after suffering opening-round setbacks on Saturday morning, as Josiah Nava (125), Kainalu Estrella (141), Jed Loveless (157), Koy Wilkinson (165) and Ashton Seely (184) all sit with 0-1 records in the tournament. 
 
As a team, UVU sits in ninth place out of 12 teams with 15 points. The Wolverines currently find themselves ahead of West Virginia (13), Air Force (9) and Fresno State (7.5). Iowa State is leading the event with 64 points, while Oklahoma State is in second with 61 points. 
 
The 2020 Big 12 Championship will continue with the second session on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT. The session will feature the event's semifinals as well as consolation action. Day two of the Big 12 Championship will get going on Sunday at 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT. The first three sessions will be streamed live on ESPN+
 
UTAH VALLEY 2020 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
*Big 12 seeds listed instead of national rankings
 
125 - Josiah Nava (0-1)
#5 Jace Koelzer (NC) TF Josiah Nava (UVU), 16-1 (6:47)
 
133 - #1 Taylor LaMont (0-1)
#8 Mosha Schwartz (NC) DEC #1 Taylor LaMont (UVU), 6-4
 
141 - Kainalu Estrella (0-1)
#5 DJ Lloren (FS) TF Kainalu Estrella (UVU), 16-1 (7:00)
 
149 - Cameron Hunsaker (1-1)
Cameron Hunsaker (UVU) FALL #8 Jaron Jensen (WYO), 3:52
#1 Boo Lewallen (OK State) TF Cameron Hunsaker (UVU), 15-0 (3:10)
 
157 - Jed Loveless (0-1)
#8 Dewey Krueger (WYO) DEC Jed Loveless (UVU), 2-1
 
165 - Koy Wilkinson (0-1)
#8 Austin Yant (UNI) DEC Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 1-0
 
174 - #4 Kimball Bastian (0-1)
#5 Joe Smith (OK State) DEC #4 Kimball Bastian (UVU), 3-1 (SV-1) 
 
184 - Ashton Seely (0-1)
#1 Taylor Lujan (UNI) DEC Ashton Seely (UVU), 11-4
 
197 - #6 Tanner Orndorff (1-1)
#6 Tanner Orndorff (UVU) FALL Casey Jumps (AFA), 5:54
#3 Jake Woodley (OU) DEC #6 Tanner Orndorff (UVU), 6-2
 
285 - #1 Tate Orndorff (1-0)
#1 Tate Orndorff (UVU) MD Blake Wolters (SDSU), 11-3