Orlando Ponce

Orlando Ponce is a former 157- and 165-pound wrestler for Augsburg and current member of the coaching staff. A transfer from Division II West Liberty State, he wrestled for Hialeah-Miami Lakes (Fla.) High School. Ponce was a four-time national qualifier and three-time national finalist, placing second each time, first at 165 pounds and then twice at 157 pounds.

At Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, he was a two-time state qualifier, placing fifth his senior year.

College Career
Ponce competed for Div. II West Liberty State during the 2005–06 school year.

2008–09 season
After sitting out the first semester, Ponce made his Augsburg debut at the 2009 Brute/Zac Jarzynka Sunshine Wrestling Classic, going 4–2 to take ninth place at 157 pounds. He made his varsity dual debut against Wisconsin–Stevens Point February 13, 2009, dropping a 9–2 decision to seventh-ranked Jake Wozniak at 165 pounds.

Regional
Ponce competed at 165 pounds at the 2009 Great Lakes Regional Championships, finishing third, but qualifying for Nationals as a "wild card" entrant.

Nationals
Ponce competed at 165 pounds at the 2009 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships, going 1–2, but did not place. In the first match, he dropped an 8–5 decision to Michael Morin (Southern Maine). In the wrestlebacks, he defeated Vincent Renaut (Merchant Marine) 7–6. He was then eliminated by Tyler Burkle (Coe) with a 5–3 decision.

2009–10 season
Ponce entered the season ranked sixth in the NCWA Preseason Rankings and tenth at 165 pounds in the d3wrestle.com Preseason Rankings. At the Auggie-Brute-Adidas Open on November 21, Ponce went 3-1 for third place in the 165-pound gold division. In the first round, Ponce won by default default. In the quarterfinals, Ponce defeated Luther's Lance Serbousek in an 8-4 decision. In the semifinals, he lost to Grand Valley State's Brad Lower by fall 10 seconds into the second period. In the third-place match, Ponce won by default. On November 25, Ponce lost to No. 8 (Div. II) Gavin Nelson in a 7-6 decision.

On December 8, Ponce pinned Division II opponent Brennan Novaceck of Minnesota State University Moorhead just 33 seconds into the first period.

Regional
Ponce competed at 165 pounds at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Championships on February 20. He earned the second seed. He went 4–0 to claim the regional crown. In the first round, he won a 7–3 decision over Tyler Dempsey (Augustana) and then an 11–3 major decision over Joby Bodi (North Central). In the semifinal, earned a 9–4 decision over Matt Jeska (Concordia Moorhead) and in the final, he recorded a 14–6 major decision over Josef Waples (St. Olaf).

Nationals
Ponce competed at 165 pounds at the 2010 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships on March 5 and 6. He earned the seventh seed. In his first match, he picked up an 8–2 win over Joey Favia (Stevens Inst. of Tech.) and then upset second-seeded Carrington Banks (Wartburg) in the quarter final. In the semifinal, he notched another upset, this time over third-seeded Nick LeClere (Coe) by an 11–9 decision. In the final, he dropped a 7–3 decision to Vincent Renaut (Merchant Marine).

Regional
Ponce competed at 157 pounds at the 2011 Great Lakes Regional Championships on February 26. He earned the first seed and went 4—0 to claim the regional crown. He scored a 16–1 tech fall in 5:42 over Mitch Musgrove (Augustana) in his first match, then followed up with a 12–3 major decision over Jim Layton (Chicago). In the semifinal, Ponce defeated Justin Skillings (St. Olaf) 7–4 and in the final, topped Justin Berns (Concordia Moorhead) 8–3.

Nationals
Ponce competed at 157 pounds at the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships on March 11 and 12. He competed as the second seed. He went 3–1 to finish second, his second All American honor. In his first match, he won an 11–1 major decision over Ryan Warczynski (Dubuque). In the quarterfinals, he earned a 3–1 victory in sudden victory over seventh-seeded Nicholas Loughlin (Cornell) and then won in regular time by the same score to third-seeded Carrington Banks (Wartburg). In the final, he dropped a 3–3 match on riding time criteria in the final to Dan Twito (Merchant Marine).

Regional
Ponce competed at 157 pounds at the 2012 Great Lakes Regional Championships, earning the first seed. He went 4–0 to claim the top spot and qualifying for nationals. In the first round, Ponce pinned Michael Turner (Pacific) at 3:19 before earning a 17–4 major decision over William Byrd (Wheaton). In the semifinal, he pinned Kevin Fynboh (Concordia Moorhead) in 1:23. In the final, he recorded a 12–3 major decision over Chris Stevermer.

Nationals
Ponce competed at 157 pounds at the 2012 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships, earning the first seed. He went 3–1 and finished second, his third consecutive second-place showing. In his first match, he recorded a 16–8 major decision over Joseph Atwell (Central (Iowa)). In the quarter finals he pinned eight-seeded Derek Brenon (Ithaca) in 2:48. In the semifinals, he recorded a 6–4 decision in overtime over fourth-seeded Chris Burdge (Centenary (N.J.)). In the final, he dropped a 10–9 to eventual three-time national champion and second-seeded Nazar Kulchyskyy (Wisconsin–Oshkosh).

College stats
Stats final.