One Warrior Community: Westcliff Athletics Kicks Off the Fall Season
Bringing every Westcliff University student-athlete into one room is no easy task.
Between classes, practices, competitions, travel and the many responsibilities that come with being a collegiate athlete, the university’s 16 sports teams rarely have an opportunity to gather in the same place. Last week’s Westcliff Athletics pep rally offered exactly that: a chance to pause, celebrate and begin a new season together.
The room was filled with the people who have helped turn Westcliff Athletics into one of the nation’s fastest-growing collegiate programs. Student-athletes, coaches and university leaders came together for an afternoon defined by championship recognition, spirited competition, plenty of laughter and unmistakable Warrior pride.
Justin Hernandez, Westcliff’s Sr. Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, captured the importance of athletes to the university community.
“All of you are the heart and energy of Westcliff,” Hernandez told the crowd. “We are so proud of all that you have done and all that you will do this season.”
For a department built around competition, the pep rally was not about one team, one sport or one championship. It was about the collective identity shared by every student-athlete who wears Westcliff across their uniform.
A Rare Moment Together
The fall season is already underway for several Warrior programs, including men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and cross country. The defending national champion surf team will also begin its season soon, carrying significant momentum into its title defense.
Although each program follows its own schedule and pursues its own goals, the pep rally gave athletes across every sport an opportunity to connect as one department.
That sense of togetherness has become a central focus under Director of Athletics Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. Now in his second season at Westcliff, Rivas-Sandoval has helped create new levels of unity and enthusiasm throughout the department while building upon its rapidly growing legacy of success.
His message to the athletes emphasized achievement in every part of the student-athlete experience.
“Success in athletics and success in the classroom,” Rivas-Sandoval said.
For Rivas-Sandoval, the energy inside the room represented something that should extend well beyond the pep rally. He challenged the athletes to show up for one another throughout the season and bring the same enthusiasm to the sidelines, stands and fields of competition.
“This energy we have here right now, I want to see that at games,” Rivas-Sandoval said. “I want this same level of support and unmistakable Warrior pride. Let’s make our presence known.”
It was a call for every team to recognize that it is part of something larger. When one Westcliff team competes, the entire Warrior community has an opportunity to stand behind it.
Built From the Ground Up
Westcliff Athletics’ current momentum is the product of a transformation that has unfolded over the past six years.
What began as a collection of emerging programs has developed into a department with 16 sports, hundreds of student-athletes and a growing national presence. Since joining the NAIA and California Pacific Conference in 2021, Westcliff teams have consistently competed for conference and national championships while student-athletes have earned recognition for their performances in competition and in the classroom.
The Warriors have now captured 11 national championships and 32 conference championships, while earning more than 40 NAIA All-American honors. Along the way, Westcliff has expanded opportunities through new programs, invested in emerging collegiate sports and created a culture in which championship expectations extend across the department.
Dr. Matthew Hubbs, Westcliff’s Sr. Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, has overseen much of the university’s expansive growth and witnessed the evolution of Warrior Athletics firsthand.
“This was built from the ground up with a lot of hard work and great people,” Dr. Hubbs said. “It is incredible to see how far we are today, with so many of you here, countless championships won and diplomas awarded.”
Hernandez underscored this growth by sharing with the room that Westcliff University has now surpassed over 11,000 students enrolled just shortly after recently surpassing the 10,000 milestone. Showing just how rapidly Westcliff is growing as an institution.
Those final words reflected an important part of the department’s identity. Championships may be the most visible evidence of Westcliff’s rise, but diplomas remain among its most meaningful accomplishments.
The goal is not simply to develop successful athletes. It is to prepare students to succeed long after their final season ends.
Celebrating the Champions
The pep rally also created an opportunity to recognize two teams that reached the pinnacle of their sports last season.
Westcliff Surf was honored after capturing the first NSSA Collegiate National Championship in program history. The title completed a steady climb through the national rankings and validated Westcliff’s groundbreaking investment in collegiate surfing. After finishing fifth, third and then runner-up in consecutive seasons, the Warriors broke through by defeating longtime powerhouse Point Loma Nazarene University at Salt Creek.
Westcliff Cheer was also recognized for continuing its remarkable championship run. The Warriors captured national titles at both the NCA and USA Collegiate Championships, with the USA victory marking the program’s third consecutive championship at the event.
Both teams now enter a new season with a different challenge. They are no longer pursuing their first breakthrough. They are preparing to defend their place at the top.
Their recognition gave every athlete in attendance a reminder of what is possible when talent, preparation and a strong team culture come together.
Warriors Take the Stage
The program’s competitive spirit soon moved from the field to the stage.
Many of Westcliff’s teams participated in a lip-sync contest that gave the athletes an opportunity to trade their game faces for choreography, costumes and a sense of humor. The performances featured multiple Justin Bieber renditions, some Bad Bunny and an assortment of routines that kept teammates and university leaders laughing throughout the event.
A panel of head coaches judged the performances, and did not let their familiarity with the competitors soften their scoring. The critiques were tough, the competition was spirited and the athletes embraced the opportunity to be silly alongside teammates they usually see in a much different setting.
Women’s soccer, men’s volleyball and cheer emerged among the winners, earning bragging rights in a competition far removed from their usual sports.
The performances captured the spirit of the afternoon. Athletes who spend much of the year pursuing demanding goals were able to relax, cheer for one another and enjoy being part of the same community.
Preparing for Life Beyond Competition
Even amid the celebration, the pep rally reflected Westcliff’s commitment to supporting student-athletes beyond their playing careers.
Amy Dibello and John Divencensi, representing Alumni Affairs and Career Services, spoke with athletes about the resources and relationships available to them as they prepare for life after graduation. Their presence reinforced the message shared throughout the event: being a Warrior does not end when an athlete takes off the uniform for the final time.
The discipline, resilience, teamwork and leadership developed through collegiate athletics can carry into careers and communities. Westcliff’s role is to help student-athletes recognize those strengths and translate them into their next chapter.
Carrying the Energy Forward
The pep rally lasted only one afternoon, but the feeling it created is intended to carry throughout the season.
It will be present when soccer takes the pitch, volleyball steps onto the court, cross country reaches the starting line and surf steps on the sand. It will also carry into the seasons ahead, when each of Westcliff’s 16 teams has its opportunity to compete.
For one rare moment, every Warrior team was in the same place. National champions stood alongside programs building toward their own breakthroughs. Coaches became lip-sync judges. University leaders celebrated the athletes who have helped shape Westcliff’s identity. Teams became fans of one another.
The result was more than a kickoff to the fall season. It was a reflection of what Westcliff Athletics has become, and of the community continuing to grow around it. The challenge now is to take that energy beyond the room. Into the classroom. Into competition. Into the stands. And into another season of Warrior Athletics.