The spring sports season ended over the weekend as local athletes competed in baseball, boys golf and track and field meets. Here are this week’s selections for Journal-World Athletes of the Week:

Ben Graves, Free State

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

Free State senior Ben Graves celebrates during the Firebirds’ state tournament game against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park.

Graves threw seven innings and allowed five hits and one walk against five strikeouts in the 6A baseball state semifinal against Shawnee Mission South to get the Firebirds into the 6A state championship for the second year in a row.

Irelyn Kennedy, Baldwin

Irelyn Kennedy

Kennedy won the 4A state 1600-meter run at 5 minutes, 7.87 seconds and took second in the 3200-meter run at 11:06.03. Kennedy was also part of the state champion 4×800-meter relay team.