Boys and girls wrestling and boys swim and dive teams around Lawrence are in postseason competitions, and the local freshmen have had standout performances for their teams. Here are this week’s selections for the Journal-World Athletes of the Week:

Anabella Ackerman, Lawrence

Ackerman made Lawrence High School history in the 6A East regional girls wrestling tournament by becoming the first freshman from the school to qualify for the state tournament. She finished fourth in the 110-pound weight class with a 4-2 record. The Lions qualified six wrestlers to state, up from one last year.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Anabella Ackerman gets atop Emporia’s Chloe Steele during a dual against Emporia at Lawrence High School on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Gavin McIntosh, Free State

McIntosh, a freshman, qualified for the 6A state diving finals after scoring 246.05 points through the preliminary and semifinal diving rounds. He will enter Saturday’s final 12th on the leaderboard in the state.

Free State freshman diver Gavin McIntosh