Ponca City multi-sport standout Lance Arbona has built his reputation on grit, faith and a refusal to settle for average as he shines in football, wrestling and baseball for the Wildcats. A state qualifier on the mat, Arbona balances year-round competition while becoming one of Ponca City’s most dependable athletes across three sports.
Arbona said competing in multiple sports has taught him to “push through adversity and give everything you got all the time,” a mindset that carries from Friday nights to the wrestling room to the diamond. He relishes representing Ponca City in front of classmates and the local community, saying his favorite part of being a Wildcat is “being able to compete in front of my friends and show them and other fans how much we work on mastering our craft.”
That work ethic is rooted in people who have invested in him, on and off the field. Arbona points to Mr. Williams as his favorite teacher “because he is always there for me if I need to talk about anything and he helped me grow in faith.” He also credits his grandpa Jeff, who “loved sports and always wanted me to be great,” as a major influence in how he approaches competition.
Inside the locker room and wrestling room, Arbona said a teammate named Titan “was a hard worker and a great friend” who constantly pushed him “to learn well and be better.” He added a simple challenge that has stuck with him: “Do you wanna be average? Set yourself apart.” Arbona carries that advice into every practice, lift and game as he continues to develop for Ponca City.
Arbona also leans on his coaches and family, thanking “all my coaches for pushing to be the best athlete I can be” and offering a special shoutout to his parents. “Thank you mom and dad for giving me all the opportunities to be an amazing person and athlete,” he said. He models his quiet, businesslike approach after NCAA champion Nick Suriano, admiring how Suriano “works hard and stays quiet until it’s time to perform and get the job done.”
