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.

Esther Kolawole competed at the highest level of wrestling before stepping foot on a college wrestling mat.

Five months after competing at the 2024 Olympic Games, Kolawole made her college wrestling debut for William Penn University.

The Nigerian was dominant in her first tournament and continued her dominance all season long, winning a national title at 145 pounds at the 2025 NAIA Women's Wrestling Championships.

On Wednesday, Kolawole was named NAIA Women's Wrestler of the Year and NAIA Women's Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat.

She competed at 138 pounds during the regular season and won tournament titles at the Warrior Open, Grand View Open and Jimmy May Open. Kolawole won by technical fall or fall in 14 of her 15 matches during the regular season and surrendered just three points.

Kolawole's postseason performance may have been even more impressive. She moved up a weight class to 145 pounds for the postseason. At the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships, Kolawole went 3-0 and outscored her opponents 30-0, with no match lasting more than a minute. Two weeks later, Kolawole went 5-0 at the 2025 NAIA Women's Wrestling Championships to claim the national title at 145 pounds. She won her first four matches by technical fall before defeating returning national champion Jamilah McBryde of Life 12-5 in the finals.

Kolawole, a gold medalist at the African Games and African Championships, finished her freshman season with a 23-0 record. Of her 23 victories, 19 came by technical fall and two by fall.