Big-time college football and basketball aren’t the only sports where the transfer portal can lead to changes to rosters, they just aren’t publicized as much.
According to a report from Intermat, the Ohio State wrestling program has received a significant heavyweight transfer from Utah Valley. Tate Orndorff, a 6-foot, 285-pounder went 18-4 this past season and finished as the No. 11 ranked heavyweight in the country.
He also represented USA wrestling at the World Championships on the U23 squad in 2019, going 1-1. He is now headed to Columbus to compete in a Buckeye uniform.
The transfer is intriguing. Ohio State was able to find lighting in a bottle with the revelation of heavyweight Gary Traub this past season. “Gas tank” Gary was thrust into the limelight when incumbent starter Chase Singletary was lost for the season to injury, and he excelled. The big man went 23-9 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled.
Traub is graduating from the program however, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens with any competition that takes place between a healthy Singletary and Orndorff. There is no NCAA requirement to sit out a year in the sport of wrestling.
