Michael Timm, a recent Twinsburg High School graduate, signed with Wright State University to continue his academic and baseball careers on scholarship.

“He is an exceptional baseball player, a great student, and a very fine young man,” Twinsburg coach Donald R. Jones said. “Michael’s best baseball is still ahead of him. We are very proud of him here at Twinsburg High School and are looking for even greater accomplishments from him in the future.”

Wadsworth High School senior Nick Tavanello will continue his academic and wrestling careers next year on scholarship at Ohio State University after giving an oral commitment.

Tavanello wrestled at 215 pounds the past three years, winning a Division I individual state title as a sophomore and junior and helping Wadsworth win a team state title as a sophomore.

Medina High School senior Ally Peters has orally committed to continue her academic and volleyball careers on scholarship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Peters, a 6-foot-1 middle-hitter, compiled a Medina County-record 37 kills against Solon on Sept. 30.

Buckeye High School named Tim Maxworthy its new wrestling coach.

Maxworthy, 26, a 2003 Buckeye graduate, takes over for Phil Gregor.

Three more Stark County products are getting a chance to show their abilities in an NFL training camp.

Quarterback Mike Hartline, defensive back Devon Torrence and tight end Ryan Travis have signed to get the opportunity to play professionally.

Tallmadge High School senior right-handed pitcher Tucker Linder is staying close to home.

Linder orally committed Tuesday to continue his baseball and academic careers at Kent State University. His decision is not shocking considering the respect and admiration he has for KSU head coach Scott Stricklin and associate head coach-pitching coach Mike Birkbeck.

The NFL lockout is over and Joe Morgan is ready to play some football.

Morgan, 23, signed a contract Tuesday with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent and is overjoyed at the opportunity that awaits him.

Massillon junior quarterback Kyle Kempt has reportedly added an offer from West Virginia, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Kempt, who is 6 feet 5 and 195 pounds, also has offers from Toledo and Tennessee.

Ohio.com and the Akron Beacon Journal have learned that Hoban defensive end LaTroy Lewis gave the University of Tennessee a verbal commitment to play for the Volunteers as a member of the class of 2012.

The Vols have been very active in Northeast Ohio, recently offering Copley running back Aregeros Turner this week.

Sturgis (Mich.) senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Drake Miller has reportedly added an offer from Akron, according to Scout.com.

Miller, who is 6 feet 6 and 275 pounds, also has offers from Ball State and Bowling Green, according to Scout.com.

The Tallmadge Blue Devils are on alert as one of their primary offensive weapons, senior running back, Tyrin Williams will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery by the end of the week

Williams didn't participate in any of team's camp this week and is expected to undergo surgery before the end of the week.

According to Larry Sullivan, one of the four young men involved, the four Firestone players who transferred to Buchtel High School in the hopes of playing for coach Ricky Powers will attend Ellet High School and play for the Ellet Orangmen.

Sullivan, along with Timote Anderson, DeDonte Cheatham, Dierre Smith became embroiled in a controversy when they tried to transfer and were declared ineligible.

Fairfield High School senior linebacker/safety James Turner will take an unofficial visit to the University of Akron on Thursday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Turner, who is 5 feet 11 and 205 pounds, was offered by the Zips on June 20. He is one of the top players in the 2012 class in the Cincinnati area for this upcoming season.

Copley junior running back Aregeros Turner has reportedly added an offer from Tennessee, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Turner, who is 5 feet 10 and 180 pounds, is one of the state’s top players in the 2013 class. He also has an offer from Illinois, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

For fans of high school football, this is the beginning of the best time of the year.

I started by taking in 7-on-7s Tuesday night at Buchtel High School where the Griffins went through passing scrimmages (no contact) with East High School, Warrensville Heights, John F. Kennedy and John Adams from Cleveland.

Marlington senior running back Alden Hill has reportedly made a verbal commitment to play at Tennessee, according to several online published reports, including ScoutingOhio.com.

Hill, who is 6 feet 2 and 225 pounds, also had offers from Boston College, Pittsburgh, Kent State, Virginia, Northwestern, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Bowling Green, Ball State and several others, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

According to the Dayton Daily News, University of Akron basketball recruit Gary Akbar has rescinded his commitment to play for the Zips.

The newspaper reports that Akbar committed to Akron last week, but changed his mind Tuesday.

Hoban left-handed pitcher Matt Gebacz, a 2011 graduate, has reportedly committed to play baseball at the University of Akron, according to SportsInk.com.

Gebacz recently switched his commitment from Niagara to Akron, according to the SportsInk website. He helped the Knights reach the Division II state championship game last season, according to the site.

Cleveland Glenville senior running back/linebacker Aykee Henderson has reportedly been offered by Akron, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Henderson, who is 5 feet 10 and 190 pounds, also has offers from Bowling Green and Toledo.

The University of Akron has reportedly offered Midview defensive end Arlington McClinton, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

McClinton, who is 6 feet 6 and 230 pounds, also has an offer from Toledo.

Massillon junior quarterback Kyle Kempt has reportedly added an offer from Tennessee, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Kempt, who is 6 feet 5 and 195 pounds, also has an offer from Toledo.

Evan Payne confirmed that he has decided to leave Walsh Jesuit and transfer to Huntington Prep in West Virginia for his senior year.

Payne, a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged about 25 points per game for a Warriors basketball team that won a Division II district title at Stow and reached the regional tournament at Canton.

Archbishop Hoban recently named assistant coach Tom O’Neil as its boys track and field coach.

O’Neil guided North from 1994 to 2010, and was City Series Track and Field Coach of the Year nine times — 1995, ’96, ’99, 2000, ’03, ’05 and ’07-09.

Former Cuyahoga Falls football coach Don Ross has been named athletics director and assistant principal at Woodridge High School.

In 14 seasons as coach, Ross compiled a record of 77-74.

Kim Applegarth has resigned as softball coach at Cuyahoga Falls High School.

“Both my parents have some medical issues and it just felt like the right time to retire. I have no regrets,” Applegarth said.

Joe Wojcik is out as the Firestone High School boys basketball coach after three seasons.

Akron Superintendent David W. James confirmed Monday after a board meeting that Firestone is searching for a new boys varsity basketball coach.

Eight area boys’ lacrosse players have been named Regional All-Americans, according to U.S. Lacrosse.

The players were named for the North Coast section of Ohio.

- Hudson junior linebacker Ben Gedeon has reportedly added an offer from Tennessee, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Gedeon, who is 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, is one of the state’s top players in the 2013 class. He also reportedly has offers from Michigan and Penn State.

- Several area football players from the 2012 class have received recent scholarship offers, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Buchtel Griffins defensive back Jarrod Wilson has verbally committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines in the fall of 2012, according to AkronNewsNow.

The defensive standout was one of the key reasons Buchtel went so far in the state playoffs.

Aurora senior wide receiver Anthony Melchiori has reportedly made a verbal commitment to play football at Kent State, according to ScoutingOhio.com. He is 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds.

Minerva senior wide receiver Kyle Crum has verbally committed to Kent State, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Crum, who is 6 feet 5 and 210 pounds, also had an offer from Louisville.

The Kent State football program has offered a scholarship to Bishop Fenwick quarterback Austin Gearing, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Gearing, who is 6 feet 5 and 205 pounds, is one of the top players in Southwest Ohio in the 2012 class. Gearing also has offers from Cincinnati, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo.

Canton McKinley reportedly could name Central Michigan assistant Keith Noftz as its next head basketball coach on Thursday, according to the Canton Repository.

The publication reports Noftz would have to be approved the Board of Education at its meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Timken High School.

With teammate and fellow defensive end Greg McMullen having announced his decision for college, the other prize recruit, LaTroy Lewis, is left to make his decision.

Ohio State recruited both players, but neither will attend school there.  Call it the Tressel effect, but  McMullen chose Nebraska and Lewis told the Beacon Journal that he's narrowed his choices to Tennessee and Notre Dame.

As we mentioned on the Varsity Letters blog recently, Walsh Jesuit senior kicker Ross Martin has verbally committed to play at Duke.

Walsh coach Gerry Rardin said Martin committed to Duke on the way home from Florida.

- Madison High School strong safety Jason O’Bryan has reportedly made a verbal commitment to play at Kent State, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

O’Bryan is 6 feet 3 and 195 pounds.