A New Beginning: Cleidy Perez-Rivas Sets the Stage for Women's Wrestling at Northwestern

Cleidy Perez-Rivas is ready to make history. As the first recruit for Northwestern College's new women's wrestling team, she's not just looking forward to competing and winning titles; she's eager to lay a foundation for the future.

"I believe God opened this door for a reason, and I feel called to help build something that honors Him—both on and off the mat," Perez-Rivas said. "Being part of a brand new program gives me the opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up."

INSPIRING OTHERS
For Perez-Rivas, an incoming senior at Atlantic High School, wrestling goes beyond the physicality and competition. It's about community, faith, and personal growth.

"What excites me the most is being able to help create a culture that's rooted in hard work, faith, and community," she said. "It means a lot to know I'll be part of something from day one, and I hope that through my journey, I can inspire other young women to trust God's plan and chase big goals with boldness."

Perez-Rivas is aware of the challenges that come with transitioning from high school to college athletics. She's ready to embrace them with a focused mindset.

"I know the transition to college athletics will come with new challenges, so I'm focusing on staying consistent in every area — physically, mentally, and spiritually," she said. "I want to stay grounded in my faith because I know I'll need God's strength to guide me through this next chapter."

As she joins the inaugural team, her vision is clear: to establish a team culture that champions trust, respect, and a shared purpose.

"Since we're starting from scratch, I'm really looking forward to helping build a strong and positive team culture," she said. "I want to show up every day ready to work hard, support my teammates, and stay focused on what matters. I plan to lead by example, encourage others when things get tough, and create an environment where everyone feels welcome and motivated."

BUILDING A LEGACY
Perez-Rivas is not just focused on her athletic journey — she's also preparing for a career in nursing. Balancing nursing and wrestling may be demanding, but she sees it as an opportunity to grow in discipline, confidence, and focus.

"I think college is going to push me in all the right ways," Perez-Rivas said. "Balancing nursing and wrestling will definitely be challenging, but I know it'll help me grow in discipline, confidence, and staying focused on my goals. I want to become a nurse who leads with compassion, and I think everything I'll learn — both in the classroom and through my team — will help prepare me for that."

As Perez-Rivas prepares to step onto the mat for the first time as a Red Raider, she will do so with a heart full of gratitude and determination. She's ready to leave a legacy for future women to embrace the sport, trust in God's plan, and chase their dreams with unwavering faith.

"Honestly, when I first started wrestling, I didn't know it would lead me here," she said. "But as I kept growing in the sport, I fell in love with the grind, the connections I made, and the way it pushed me to be better overall. Over time, I started to realize that wrestling was something I wanted to keep doing at the next level. I'm really grateful God opened this door, especially with a program that's just getting started. It feels like the right place and the right time."

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