EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following a dominant season on the mat, rising junior Sebastian Rivera was honored as Northwestern's Male Athlete of the Year at the annual NESPYs on Friday at the Hilton Orrington.
Rivera was one of the most dominant forces in college wrestling during his 2018-19 campaign, going undefeated in the 125lbs weight class during the regular-season. He won his weight class at both the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in December, and captured his first Big Ten Championship in dramatic fashion in March in Minneapolis. Ranked No. 1 in the nation for most of the season, Rivera earned his second consecutive All-America honor at the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh.
The New Jersey native was selected from a distinguished group of finalists that included football's Clayton Thorson, golf's Ryan Lumsden and basketball's Vic Law. As Northwestern's winner, Rivera is now one of 14 finalists for the Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year award.
Rivera was one of the most dominant forces in college wrestling during his 2018-19 campaign, going undefeated in the 125lbs weight class during the regular-season. He won his weight class at both the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in December, and captured his first Big Ten Championship in dramatic fashion in March in Minneapolis. Ranked No. 1 in the nation for most of the season, Rivera earned his second consecutive All-America honor at the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh.
The New Jersey native was selected from a distinguished group of finalists that included football's Clayton Thorson, golf's Ryan Lumsden and basketball's Vic Law. As Northwestern's winner, Rivera is now one of 14 finalists for the Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year award.
And the male nominee for 2019 Big Ten Athlete of the Year is @nuwrestle sophomore Sebastian Rivera. #B1GCats x #GoCats x #NESPYs pic.twitter.com/EbHCVbJFdY
— Northwestern Athletics (@NU_Sports) June 1, 2019