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 remade in 2025. If she hits the ground running, she’s poised to become a quick leader in Ann Arbor. And a booming Yurchenko one and a half anchoring Michigan’s exhibition meet vault lineup indicates we’ll see her early and often.
Joscelyn Roberson, Arkansas
World Champion and Olympic alternate Roberson is the most high-profile freshman of her class, and for good reason; her impact is a significant factor in Arkansas’ high expectations for 2025. One of the most powerful vaulters and tumblers in the world, Roberson will undoubtedly shine on the leg events, but she also looked quite clean on bars and beam at the Razorbacks’ preview meet to be able to threaten for the all-around.
Kailin Chio, LSU
The fifth overall recruit in the 2024 class, Chio impressed in the all-around for the defending champs at LSU’s Gymnastics 101, looking college-ready on all four events. With the Tigers’ tremendous depth this season, making lineups consistently is no guarantee for Chio, but at her best, she should be in LSU’s top six on at least a few come the postseason.
Macy McGowan, UCLA
With the Bruins needing to replace several key routines from a season ago, expect their top recruit, McGowan, to factor into some of those open slots. She should be a mainstay on vault and floor, where her tumbling and performance match the program’s vibe perfectly, and she’ll also be essential in UCLA’s quest to get back to nationals after last season’s early postseason exit.
Rylee Guevara, Ohio State
Ohio State’s recruiting continues to be top-tier, and Guevara is no exception. The former five-star recruit is the reigning level 10 floor champion, brings a dynamic Yurhcenko one and a half, and should contribute on beam as well. She has the potential to be a game-changer, adding a third consistent 9.900 on each piece to slot in with veterans Payton Harris and Tory Vetter.
Ava Stewart, Minnesota
The Gophers have lacked a little star power since Lexy Ramler and Ona Loper graduated. Mya Hooten has been holding down the fort in Minneapolis, but she’ll have help in a big way in 2025 thanks to two-time Canadian Olympian Stewart. She finished No. 19 in the Paris all-around final and is sure to have a massive impact on Minnesota’s lineups.
Madison Gustitus, San Jose State
By virtue of being her program’s first-ever five-star recruit, Gustitus will get the opportunity to shine immediately as a freshman, as her routines are essential for San Jose State to be at its best. She’s a reigning level 10 national champion on beam and has a huge full-in on floor to bolster her all-around prowess. Should the Spartans make waves in 2025, expect Gustitus to be a massive reason why.
Any of Oklahoma’s Freshmen
Between the three former five-star recruits Kelsey Slade, Elle Mueller, and Lily Pederson, along with former U.S. elite Addison Fatta, numerous rookies in Norman are capable of contending for this crown. But, with the strength of the returning roster, opportunities for freshmen to break into lineups may be challenging to find. Mueller is coming off an incredible level 10 season while Fatta has been featured heavily in preseason videos, giving that duo a slight leg-up on their classmates entering 2025.
Ui Soma, Stanford
The Cardinal is infamous for having low-freshman lineups and offering limited preseason training footage, making it difficult to project what one can expect from their top-ranked freshman class. But prized recruit Ui Soma was competing for Japan as recently as the summer, making the former five-star a viable FOTY contender. Soma’s cleanliness is also just what Stanford needs to replace a number of key routines after a Cinderella run to nationals, so cross your fingers the rookie gets the rare green light.
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Article by Brandis Heffner and Emily Minehart
