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.

Wartburg's Kade Blume was the lone freshman to win a national title at the 2026 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.

On Tuesday, Blume was announced as the 2026 NCAA Division III Freshman of the Year by The Open Mat.

Blume, a three-time Iowa state champion, compiled a 25-2 record en route to capturing the national championship at 141 pounds, becoming just the second freshman national champion in Wartburg wrestling program history. He finished the season with 11 technical falls, five major decisions and three pins.

After opening his college career with a technical fall in a dual meet against Simpson College, Blume finished runner-up at the Luther College Open, with his lone loss coming to an NCAA Division I wrestler from Iowa, Kale Peterson.

In December, Blume went 4-0 in dual meets, which included three technical falls and a major decision.

Blume won his first four matches at the 2026 NWCA National Duals to help lead the Knights to the finals. In the finals, Blume fell in sudden victory to returning national champion Mark Samuel of Roanoke.

He cruised to a Region VI title at 141 pounds, earning bonus point victories in all four of his matches. Blume's finals victory came over Coe's Dresden Grimm, 12-3.

Blume entered the 2026 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships as the No. 3 seed at 141 pounds. He opened his first national tournament with a 19-2 technical fall, which he followed up with an 8-0 major decision to secure a spot in the semifinals. In the semifinals, Blume edged second-seeded Nico Diaz of Stevens, 1-0.

In the finals, Blume faced the returning national champion Mark Samuel of Roanoke for the second time this season. This time, it was Blume who came out on top, earning a 4-3 decision to win the national championship at 141 pounds.