Freshman forward Manuel Ponce Casas was born in Cancun, Mexico. He spent his life growing up in Playa del Carmen, an hour south of his birthplace. Ponce Casas has one younger sister and hopes to be the first college graduate in his family. Ponce Casas enjoys playing different sports, dancing and playing the drums. Since being in Grand Junction, he has now found passions on and off the field.

“I miss my home, my family and my friends. I miss going to the ocean and Mexican food. Mesa is really different compared to Mexico, but I like going to the rivers, the lake, and I like the people. Everyone around here is so friendly,” Ponce Casas said. 

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Ponce Casas has played soccer since he was seven years old. He recently joined the Mazatlán Futbol Club, a professional club team established in 2020, and played one season with the club.

“Soccer in Mexico can be slower and more technical. We really take more time to attack and don’t attack as fast as we do here. The rhythm of the game is pretty slow compared to here,” Ponce Casas said. 

Recruited by multiple top collegiate programs in the United States, Manuel came in search of a good education, while also pursuing a promising career in soccer. He found his place among the people, environment and soccer program at Colorado Mesa University (CMU). 

The CMU men’s soccer team sits at 8-5-1 heading into week eight of competition. Ponce Casas is tied for the lead for goals for the Mavericks, with six and is second on the team with 14 points on the season. 

“My expectations on my part were to play and help the team in every way possible. I just wanted a team that supported me and played good soccer. We’ve performed well, but have had a couple of rough games. Right now, the team is feeling good and we’re starting to perform as good as we were at the start of the season,” Ponce Casas said. 

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During the opening week of the 2022 season, Ponce Casas scored a goal in both games. During the second half against Texas A&M International, he punched in the first and only goal by both teams, leading to a 1-0 victory. Ponce Casas was recognized as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week (POTW). Two weeks later, he was honored with another POTW accolade after finding the back of the net three times and tallying two assists. In a dominant 5-1 victory over Montana State University Billings, Ponce Casas scored one goal and offered two assists to open week three. He then earned a season high of two goals against Simon Fraser University. Ponce Casas joined the elite group of six Mavericks to accomplish multiple POTW awards in the same year. 

“It felt really good as a freshman and not even being sure if I was going to play. Scoring in my first college game, then my second one, and being recognized again in week three felt really good. It just pushed me to continue growing,” Ponce Casas said. 

Studying outdoor recreation, Ponce Casas looks to finish out all four years with the Mavericks, lead them to more success, and finish with a promising career in both the sport and his major. 

“I would like to win Freshman of the Year, but that would be a big achievement. I want to score as many goals as I can to help my team. We want to go to Nationals and try to win them. Academically, I’d like to have good grades, get my major, and in soccer, try to be an All-American,” Ponce Casas said.