The Open Mat presents awards annually in three categories for each division of college wrestling at the conclusion of the season. Awards are presented for Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year and Wrestler of the Year.

Nevaeh Hayden entered her first college wrestling season with high expectations.

The three-time state champion and Fargo champion more than lived up to those expectations as a freshman at Indian Hills.

Hayden finished undefeated as a freshman, claimed the national title at 180 pounds and led Indian Hills to the national championship.

For those reasons, Hayden was named 2025 NJCAA Women's Wrestler of the Year and NJCAA Freshman of the Year on Friday.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native was dominant all season long. She was not only undefeated this season but won every match by technical fall or fall. Hayden won the Grand View Open with four falls, including a 20-second fall in the finals. In addition, she had first-period falls in all of her dual meet matches.

Hayden earned the No. 1 seed at the NJCAA Women's Wrestling Invitational at 180 pounds. She did not surrender a point in her first four matches. After two first-period falls, Hayden won by injury default in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Hayden won by fall in 29 seconds over Kaylin Montano of Umpqua.

In the national finals, Hayden faced second-seeded Anya Hatch of Southeast for the second time this season. In their first meeting on Nov. 2 at the Luther Hill Open, Hayden won by fall in the first period. Their national finals match proved to be much more competitive.

Hatch, a three-time Utah state champion and U17 world team member for Tonga, jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after throwing Hayden to her back with a headlock. Hayden responded a short time later with a four-point throw of her own to make the score 4-4. Hatch came back with another four-point throw before Hayden countered for two points, which made the score 8-6 in favor of the Southeast wrestler. Hayden added a takedown late in the first period, which made the score 8-8 after the opening period.

In the second period, Hatch struck first with a headlock for two points, which gave her a 10-8 lead. The two wrestlers continued to battle before Hayden tried a throw, which Hatch countered for two points. Hayden quickly rolled through and put Hatch on her back and secured the fall in a wild and dramatic championship match.

It marks the third straight year Indian Hills has won the NJCAA Women's Freshman of the Year award. Genesis Gilmore earned the award last year, while Eliana Bommarito won in 2023.