Local athletes continued to shine early in the fall sports season with efforts to earn individual and team wins. Here are this week’s selections for Journal-World Athletes of the Week:

Faith Hansen, Free State

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Faith Hansen swings her racket during the Gardner Edgerton Blazer Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Gardner.

Faith Hansen stepped up into the No. 1 singles role for Free State in the Blazer Invitational and finished fourth in the top singles bracket with a 2-2 record in the invitational.

Truth Pope, Lawrence

photo by: SARAH BUCHANAN/Special to the Journal-World

Junior wide receiver Truth Pope carries the ball down the field against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.

Truth Pope had his first varsity game of 100 receiving yards in Lawrence’s 35-34 win over Shawnee Mission East on Friday with two receptions, 125 yards and a touchdown. In addition to his receiver work, Pope locked down the Lancers’ top receiver in the game, which helped keep the Lancers one-dimensional offensively.