Between two City Showdown matchups and large invitationals across several sports, local athletes performed in big moments while representing their schools. Here are this week’s selections for Journal-World Athletes of the Week:

AJ Collins, Free State

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher AJ Collins delivers a pitch during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

Free State softball beat Lawrence 4-3 on April 9, with Collins throwing seven innings with six strikeouts and allowing only two earned runs.

Tyler Dye, Lawrence

Tyler Dye

Lawrence track and field competed in the K-State Relays over the weekend, and Dye came away with a win in the javelin throw, throwing 203 feet, nine inches. The Creighton commit cleared first by almost 17 feet.