The Open Mat

Two-time NJCAA national champion Ayana Fletcher is headed to the NAIA, committing to Lindsey Wilson University after a standout career at Iowa Western Community College. Fletcher finished the season as The Open Mat's No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler in NJCAA women's wrestling. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle #NAIAWWrestle #womenswrestling

Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State has been named the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat after completing a dominant season. Mesenbrink capped his undefeated junior campaign by winning his second straight NCAA title at 165 pounds and helping Penn State secure its fifth consecutive NCAA team championship. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #d1wrestle

Cael Sanderson has been announced as the 2026 NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by The Open Mat after leading Penn State to another historic season. The Nittany Lions captured their fifth straight NCAA team title in dominant fashion, breaking their own scoring record. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #d1wrestle

Jax Forrest of Oklahoma State has been named the 2026 NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat after winning a national title in his debut season. He finished the season with a perfect 18-0 record. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #d1wrestle

The Iowa State women's wrestling program has added its third commitment in a matter of days, continuing a strong early push in building its roster. Campbellsville transfer Makennah Craft, an NAIA All-American as a freshman, announced that she will join the Cyclones. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #NCAAwomenswrestling #womenswrestling

Grace Lachinsky will continue her collegiate wrestling career at Life University after a standout season at Lindsey Wilson, highlighted by an All-America finish. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle #NAIAWWrestle #womenswrestling

Iowa's Kylie Welker has been named the 2026 NCAA Women's Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat after another dominant season. Welker, a two-time senior world bronze medalist, capped an undefeated 2025–26 campaign by winning the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling national championship at 180 pounds. It was her third straight collegiate national title. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #NCAAwomenswrestling #womenswrestling

Alexio Garcia has been named the 2026 NCAA Women's Coach of the Year by The Open Mat after leading McKendree to a historic 2025–26 season. Garcia guided the Bearcats to the inaugural NCAA women's wrestling national championship. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #NCAAwomenswrestling #womenswrestling

Olympian and William Penn standout Christianah Ogunsanya has committed to Iowa State, giving the Cyclones another major addition as the program continues to build its inaugural roster. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #NCAAwomenswrestling #womenswrestling

Audrey Jimenez of Lehigh delivered one of the most dominant freshman seasons in recent memory, earning The Open Mat's 2026 NCAA Women's Freshman of the Year honors. Jimenez was an undefeated national champion with a 100% bonus rate. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NCAAwrestling #NCAAwomenswrestling #womenswrestling

Garavous Kouekabakilaho of Grand View has been named The Open Mat's 2026 NAIA Men's Wrestler of the Year after a dominant senior season that ended with a third national title and helped power the Vikings to another historic run. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle

Grant Henderson made an immediate impact at the helm of Grand View University, earning The Open Mat's NAIA Men's Coach of the Year honors after leading the Vikings through a dominant 2025-26 season. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle

Braydon Pacheco of Friends University turned in one of the top freshman seasons in NAIA men's wrestling, earning All-America honors in his first year of collegiate competition. For his performance, Pacheco was named The Open Mat's 2026 NAIA Men's Freshman of the Year. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle

Cristelle Rodriguez of Doane has been named the 2026 NAIA Women's Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat. Rodriguez closed out a dominant senior season by capturing her third consecutive national championship, recording four technical falls at the 2026 NAIA Women's Wrestling Championships. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle #NAIAWWrestle #womenswrestling

For the second straight season, Ashley Flavin of Life University has been named The Open Mat's NAIA Women's Coach of the Year. Flavin led the Running Eagles to their second consecutive NAIA women's wrestling national championship. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle #NAIAWWrestle #womenswrestling

Piper Fowler won a national title as a freshman at 180 pounds for William Penn. On Monday, Fowler was announced at the 2026 NAIA Women's Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat. theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a… #NAIA #NAIAWrestle #NAIAWWrestle #womenswrestling

Central Oklahoma's Gabe Johnson has been announced as the 2026 NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat. Johnson capped off an undefeated senior season with a third national title at 157 pounds. He finished his career on a 36-match winning streak. theopenmat.com/articles/tom69… #NCAAwrestling #d2wrestle

Dalton Jensen guided Nebraska Kearney to its second straight NCAA Division II national championship this past season and sixth in program history. The UNK head wrestling coach was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by The Open Mat on Thursday. theopenmat.com/articles/tom69… #NCAAwrestling #d2wrestle

Jacob Strausbaugh of UMary has been honored as the 2026 NCAA Division II Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat. Strausbaugh, an Alaska native, claimed the national title as a true freshman at 133 pounds. theopenmat.com/articles/tom69… #NCAAwrestling #d2wrestle

North Central's Chip Guzman was announced as the 2026 NCAA Division III Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat. Guzman won the national title at 125 pounds and finished the season undefeated. He had a 100% bonus rate. theopenmat.com/articles/tom69… #NCAAwrestling #d3wrestle