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.

Gavin Bauder was one of California's top high wrestlers in the Class of 2024 but fell just short of finishing on top of the podium in his final two years of high school wrestling, earning runner-up honors as a junior and placing third a senior while at Buchanan High School.

Despite never winning a state title, Bauder became a freshman national champion as a freshman at Clackamas Community College.

On Monday, Bauder was named NJCAA Men's Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat.

Bauder started his freshman season at 141 pounds. He won a tournament title at the Clackamas Open on Dec. 8, earning bonus-point victories in four of his five matches. Bauder put together a dominant performance at the NJCAA Coaches Duals in January, posting a 7-0 record with multiple ranked wins, including a 7-2 victory over Western Wyoming's Dmitri Alarcon, a 2025 NJCAA national runner-up at 141 pounds.

He made the move down to 133 pounds for the Region 18 Tournament, where he won the region title with pins in the semifinals and finals.

At the NJCAA Men's Wrestling Championships, the second-seeded Bauder earned bonus points in his first three matches, getting a fall, technical fall and major decision to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, Bauder edged Amantee Mills of Andrew, 1-0. Bauder then secured his national championship with a convincing 11-4 victory in the finals over Iowa Central's Drew Cooper.