The fall sports season is heating up and local athletes are shining in both regular season and postseason play. Here are this week’s selections for Journal-World Athletes of the Week:

Claire Cummins, Free State

Claire Cummins

Cummins had a busy week finishing in the top five of two golf tournaments. In the Sunflower League Round 1 tournament, Cummins placed fourth by shooting a 79. Two days later, she tied for fifth in the Lawrence Invitational after finishing three strokes above par.

Kayden Pitts, Lawrence

photo by: Parker I. Johnson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence running back Kayden Pitts (5) on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 at Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park.

Pitts had a career game in Lawrence’s 44-7 win over Shawnee Mission South, carrying the ball 17 times for 188 yards and a touchdown. His carries and yardage were career highs, and he accounted for nearly half of Lawrence’s 416 rushing yards in the game.