The boys swim and dive season ended on Saturday, while wrestling is in its final weekend of competition, meaning the winter sports season is entering its final stretch. Local athletes are making plays in these big moments as athletes cap off their seasons. Here are this week’s selections for Journal-World Athletes of the Week:

Jada Baars-Turner, Lawrence

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Jada Baars-Turner brings the ball past halfcourt during the City Showdown basketball game on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

Baars-Turner scored 14 points as Lawrence girls basketball beat Free State for the fifth-straight time, 63-28, on Friday. Baars-Turner’s impact went beyond hitting multiple 3-pointers, as she moved the ball around and took an early charge.

Gavin McIntosh, Free State

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore diver Gavin McIntosh raises his hand before the diving finals of the 6A boys state swim and dive meet on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Lenexa.

McIntosh returned to the 6A state diving meet as a sophomore and finished sixth in the state with 410.25 points. McIntosh improved upon his 12th-place finish in last year’s state meet and was the second-highest non-senior diver in the meet.