The 2025 NCAA gymnastics season is just around the corner, and with it comes the excitement of a new freshman class looking to make its mark. This year, the 2025 freshman class is packed with talent, featuring record-breaking recruits, seasoned elites, and level 10 stars poised to shake up lineups. From Utah’s Avery Neff—the No. 1 overall recruit—to elite stars like Joscelyn Roberson at Arkansas and Ava Stewart at Minnesota, the race for 2025’s Freshman of the Year promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Let’s dive into the contenders who could be the difference-makers for their programs this season.
2024 College Gym News Freshman of the Year: Lily Smith, Georgia
Avery Neff, Utah
Not only is Neff the class of 2024’s top recruit, but she’s also the highest-rated recruit ever in the ratings era, making her the frontrunner for this award heading into the season. If her Red Rocks Preview debut—where she stuck her Yurchenko one and a half and looked sharp on all four events—was any indication, Neff is more than ready to take on the challenge. Expect her to be an all-arounder from day one.
Sophia Diaz, Michigan
Diaz, the No. 2 recruit in her class, is in line to make a huge difference for Wolverine lineups that will be almost entirely…
