Knox College Prairie Fire

First-year Esai Ponce took out four opponents and won the championship in the 141 pound weight bracket at the 11-team Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Invitational on December 7.

The title is the first of Ponce's brief college career, earning him the Prairie Fire Performer of the Week award.

Ponce, the #2 seed in his division, opened the tournament by pinning Caleb Shuck of Hannibal-LaGrange University in 3:30.  He followed with a 4-3 win against Boone Roycraft of Lakeland College to advance to the semifinal round.

Standing in the way of Ponce moving on to the championship tilt was Jose Collado of UW-Platteville.  Ponce won his third straight bout by pinning Collado in 6:14, setting up a scrap with #1 seed Jake Fekete of Wheaton College.  Ponce wrapped up a perfect day by defeating Fekete 5-4.

The placement is the second so far this season for Ponce, who was fifth at 141 pounds in the season-opening Knox Invite on November 9.