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.

Grand View's Elijah Larsen won a national title as a freshman.

On Friday, Larsen was announced as the 2025 NAIA Men's Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat.

A native of Wasilla, Alaska, and nicknamed "Alaska," Larsen found himself in a battle all season for a spot in Grand View's lineup at 149 pounds. He dropped matches to teammate Darnai Heard in November and December. After splitting a pair of matches with teammate Cole Ferguson in the first half of the season, the two teammates met in the finals of the Missouri Valley Invitational in January. Ferguson won the rubber match. After that loss, Larsen went on an impressive run

He won the Loras Open title on Feb. 1. Larsen carried that momentum into the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship three weeks later. He not only claimed the conference title at 149 pounds but did so in dominant fashion. Larsen went 4-0 with two technical falls and two falls. In the finals, Larsen secured a 17-2 technical fall over Kristofer Arrey of Missouri Valley.

After winning a conference title, Larsen entered the 2025 NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships in Wichita, Kansas, as the No. 8 seed at 149 pounds. He opened his tournament with an injury default win before pinning Life's Brett Minor in the second round. In the quarterfinals, Larsen stunned No. 1 Nik Yancey of Campbellsville, 11-5. Larsen carried that momentum into the semifinals, where he earned a 10-2 major decision over Victor Guzman of Cumberland. He then captured the national title at 149 pounds with a 12-0 major decision over Hagen Heistand of Concordia in the finals.

Larsen was the lowest-seeded wrestler to win a national title at the 2025 NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships. He was one of six individual national champions for Grand View and helped the Vikings claim their 13th NAIA men's wrestling national team title over the past 14 years.