PEORIA, Ill. – Get to know more about Bradley Soccer Jaime Ponce.

Ponce, originally from Sioux City, Iowa, is one of the newest additions to the 2024 soccer roster.

He started playing soccer when he was four years old. He played for Diablos F.C. from ages four to 16. Ponce played for Nebraska F.C. between ages 16-18. He signed a USL A contract with Union Omaha when he was 18. Before coming to Bradley, Ponce played for Salt Lake Community College.

In his downtime, Ponce enjoys activities that connect him to his roots and the outdoors, shaped by his upbringing on a family farm in Nebraska.

"I love to fish, I love to hunt, I love hiking as well. I am a pretty big outdoors guy," Ponce said. "My grandma has a 70-acre farm back in Nebraska, so I grew around all that type of stuff, going outside, hiking, and doing stuff around the ranch. She had a bunch of cattle and chickens and stuff. I grew up with that kind of lifestyle,"

Ponce enjoys watching soccer with his family. When he is not on the field, he enjoys watching the top leagues in the world.

"Obviously the Premier League, nobody can say no to the Premier League," Ponce said. "A little bit of MLS, but not too much. My favorite team is PSG. They have been my favorite team since I was ten years old,"

Another activity he enjoys practicing is boxing. He started boxing with his little brother and hopes to get back once he finishes school.

Jaime is very thankful for all the support his mother, Mariela Pablo, and father, Edgar Ponce, have shown him his entire life. He is the second of four brothers: Miguel, Xzavian, and Ayden. Ponce recently got married and is grateful for everything his wife Adysen Ponce does for him.

On the field, Ponce grew up playing in many positions. He played as a forward, center back, and right back. When arriving at Bradley, he transitioned into an old position. 

"For the past four years, I have been mainly center back, but Bradley brought me back to my right back days," Ponce said. "That's what I'm good at so I like it,"

After spending a few weeks on campus, Ponce shared his favorite thing about Bradley. 

"Definitely the staff. I think everybody is really caring. I think everybody wants you to succeed, and that's something that when you go into a Division I school, it is somewhat hard to find," Ponce said.

Ponce is thrilled about representing the Braves as he knows for many kids in the nation, playing at a Division I level is a dream come true. He is thankful for the opportunity to play at the highest collegiate level.

"I'm very proud to represent Bradley. I think a school that has been around this long, and with a new coaching staff, I think it's just really exciting," Ponce said.

Ponce believes the team has quality players and shared his goals for the 2024 season.

"Make it to the conference playoffs. I think that's one of our biggest goals, get to playoffs because once you get to playoffs, you never know what happens, you can win the whole thing," Ponce said.

Watch Ponce on the field during the 2024 fall season at Shea Stadium.