Whitehead Named NJCAA Wrestler of the Year

Centerville, IA – Sophomore Gavyn Whitehead (New Castle, IN/New Castle) continued to add prestigious accolades on top of his historic career for the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling squad. Whitehead was tapped as the 2026 The Open Mat National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Wrestler of the Year, announced Wednesday afternoon.

Whitehead, who cemented himself as one of the top NJCAA wrestlers of all-time, becomes the first member of the Indian Hills Men's Wrestling program to earn national wrestler of the year honors.

Whithead capped his decorated Indian Hills career with his second consecutive NJCAA National Championship in March. Whitehead, who became the program's first-ever individual national champion as a freshman, completed the repeat title at 141lbs with an unprecedented run through the championship bracket. Whitehead, the top overall seed at this year's tournament, secured a pair of falls before a dominant 14-7 victory in the championship bout over the No. 2 overall seed to secure a spot atop the podium.

Whitehead's dominant run was evident all year long as the sophomore toppled seven nationally ranked wrestlers while claiming the NJCAA North Central District Championship at 141lbs.

In addition to Whitehead's success on the mat, the sophomore was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American for the second consecutive season while earning Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Academic All-Region honors.