KENOSHA, Wis. — Ryan Rivera (Righreanden), a junior majoring in finance and minoring in data science hailing from Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a starting flex player for Carthage Valorant. Rivera plays any in-game agent that fits his team's needs in critical situations. In other words, he is a jack-of-all-trades tasked with competing in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) under a 5v5 team-based format.

For those unfamiliar, Valorant is a 5v5 tactical, hero-based shooter that emphasizes precise gunplay and the strategic use of abilities available to all in-game agents. There is only one competitive game mode that challenges teams to either plant or defuse a bomb (the spike). There are four main roles with unofficial sub-roles: Duelist, Initiator, Controller, and Sentinel. 

First, Duelist agents are known for being entry fraggers who lead the attack, have high mobility or self-healing kits, and take the first duels in a given round. Initiator agents specialize in gathering intel to aid the team, using flashes, darts, and recon tools to clear angles and set up kills for Duelists. Controllers are smoke experts who cut off enemy sightlines to help plant or defuse the spike and orchestrate the flow of maps and sites. Sentinels are defensive anchors and flank watchers who use traps, trips, and heals. They also slow down enemy pushes and watch the back lines. Lastly, an example of an unofficial sub-role is Rivera's position, flex.

Rivera's esports journey began shortly after he first arrived at Carthage during the 2024-25 academic year. He did not participate in esports in high school. Instead, Rivera learned about Carthage Esports at a freshman mixer, a casual social gathering designed to help incoming first-year students meet, talk, and make friends. Two individuals sitting near him were chatting about video games, and Rivera instinctively jumped into the conversation. The individuals were current Smash player Shannon Pasters (MintMelee) and former R6 player Samuel Bergamo (Scorp). 

While exploring potential collegiate destinations, one aspect remained top-of-mind for Rivera: proximity.

"I chose Carthage mainly because of its location. It sits in between Chicago and Milwaukee, which means I can just drive up or down if I want to see my hometown friends who go to other colleges in those cities. I can even take a 'short' drive to somewhere like Madison as well, though that depends on your definition of short."
– Rivera on why he chose Carthage as his college

From that conversation with Bergamo and Pasters, Rivera learned about esports and how Carthage supported and promoted its growth while offering a wide range of opportunities, including Varsity competition. Rivera found the freshman mixer to be a blessing, as he learned that Carthage's Valorant team needed two additional players. This revelation sparked his growing interest in esports, leading him to become more involved in the program. Since joining the program, Rivera has been a reliable Valorant starter and a rotational broadcaster and livestream producer.  

"I hold a lot of value in the esports program here at Carthage. It's a tight-knit community that has allowed me to be more open and have a lot of fun while also pursuing a higher education. I'm very grateful that I was introduced to it by others, even though I never initially knew what it was."
– Rivera on what Carthage Esports means to him

In his Carthage Valorant career, Rivera is a two-time NECC conference champion – Spring 2025; Division VII Midwest (3-2 win vs. Robert Morris University on April 7, 2025) – and Spring 2026; Division VI Midwest (3-0 win vs. Cornell College on April 13). He also secured a Most Improved Player award at the 2025-26 Carthage Esports Banquet on May 12.

Rivera finished his freshman season with 516 Kills, 480 Deaths (1.08 K/D), 349 Assists, 10 Spike Plants, and 10 Spike Defusals. Rivera had the most assists and the third-most kills behind James Eggert (Jawa) [611] and Sergio Musaitef (Gio) [633]. 

In his sophomore season, Rivera finished with 428 Kills, 339 Deaths (1.26 K/D), 121 Assists, 12 Spike Plants, and 15 Spike Defusals. Rivera had the second-most kills and K/D behind Charlie Post (Opt1mal) [435 Kills; 1.37 K/D]. Additionally, Rivera led the team in Kills (76), K/D (1.62), and Spike Defusals (Seven) across Carthage Valorant's Spring 2026 Division VI Nationals campaign.

Entering junior year, Rivera aims to continue his competitive career with Carthage Esports, while also making more memories within the program's "tight-knit community." 

Carthage Esports is currently in the offseason and will resume regularly scheduled livestreams in late September and early October to kick off the Fall 2026 season and the 2026-27 competitive year. 

Follow @carthageesports on all socials to stay updated on content involving the upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 seasons. Follow our Twitch channel to be informed when broadcasts go live. Lastly, be on the lookout for recaps on the Carthage Athletics – Esports page once the Fall 2026 season begins.