Orlando Ponce

Orlando Ponce is a former 157- and 165-pound wrestler for Augsburg. In the 2008-09 season, earned a trip to nationals, but did not place after going 1-2. In the following three years, Ponce placed second nationally each year.

Nationals
Went 1–2. Did not place.

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 Grandvalley'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 (Division 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 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 Divison III 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 Divison III 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).