Early last week, Withrow (Cincinnati) senior-to-be defensive tackle Brandon Mitchell planned to take some unofficial visits to four Bowl Championship Series programs over the next two weeks.
Those plans quickly changed last Thursday afternoon.
Mitchell, who is 6 feet 2 and 300 pounds, became the third Cincinnati-area player to orally commit to the University of Cincinnati when he gave a pledge to Bearcats coach Butch Jones on Thursday.
“He’s really fired up,” Withrow coach Doc Gamble said.
Mitchell was an all-conference player on offense and defense for Withrow last season. He was the Tigers’ only full-time two-way player last season.
Gamble said Mitchell will have an impact this season and will be well-prepared to enter UC in 2011. Gamble said Mitchell has the size, strength, speed and ability to succeed.
“He is one of those kids that is hard to find,” Gamble said.
Mitchell joins Badin (Hamilton) quarterback Patrick Coyne and Sycamore (Cincinnati) offensive tackle Justin Murray as the other area commits to the Bearcats from the 2011 class.
Besides Mitchell, another area player made recruiting news last Thursday when La Salle senior-to-be strong safety Ben Ingle (6-1, 210) orally committed to Ball State.
Ingle had two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Lancers last season.
More top stories from the greater Cincinnati area from the past week:
2. Reynolds commits to Iowa: Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) senior-to-be guard Kathryn Reynolds recently made an oral commitment to play at Iowa. Reynolds, who is one of the state’s top players in the 2011 class, also considered Nebraska, Michigan State and Marist. Reynolds averaged 9.6 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals in seven games last season for the Cougars.
She saw limited action due to a torn ACL injury in late December. Reynolds was the only returning starter for MND going into last season. The Cougars had won four consecutive Division I state titles before last season. As a freshman, Reynolds made a layup as time expired to give MND its third consecutive title in March 2008.
3. Xenia coach steps down: Xenia girls basketball coach Jonathan Snyder stepped down after one season, according to the Dayton Daily News. Snyder led Xenia to a 17-7 record and a Division I regional semifinal appearance, according to the publication.
The school is accepting applications until July 1, according to the publication. Xenia was second in the Greater Western Ohio Conference South division with a 5-3 league record last season. Xenia averaged a conference-best 57.9 points during the season.
4. Day steps down: Longtime Lebanon baseball coach Lee Day stepped down last week after a 352-344 record in 29 seasons, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The publication said he will remain as guidance counselor and varsity boys golf coach at the high school.
“It’s time,” Day told the publication. “I don’t have the energy that I had 10, 15 or 20 years ago to deal with all of the things that you have to deal with as a varsity baseball coach in Ohio.”Lebanon is in the process of looking for a new coach and a replacement has not yet been named.
5. Mason golfers commit: Mason golfers Emily Wright and Erin Michel – both seniors-to-be – recently made college commitments, according to the Enquirer. Wright, who was tied for fourth at the Division I state tournament last season, has committed to Wake Forest. Michel, who was tied for 10th at the tournament, has committed to Penn State.
Both players will be leaders for the Comets this upcoming fall. Mason has won two consecutive Division I state titles – and could become the first Ohio girls’ golf team to win three this year. The season begins Aug. 6.
Looking ahead
LaRosa’s Banquet, 2 p.m. Sunday: The annual Buddy LaRosa’s High School Sports Hall of Fame banquet will start Sunday afternoon at the WCET-TV studios in downtown Cincinnati. The event will select a Female and Male MVP of the year. Winton Woods (Cincinnati) quarterback Dominique Brown (Louisville commit), Lakota West (West Chester) linebacker Jordan Hicks (Texas), Hughes (Cincinnati) quarterback B.J. Lowery (Iowa), Princeton (Cincinnati, Ohio) basketball standout Jordan Sibert (Ohio State) and Mason junior cross country/track standout Zach Wills are among the Male nominees. Walnut Hills (Cincinnati) basketball standout Phylesha Bullard(Syracuse), St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati) soccer standout Elizabeth Burchenal (North Carolina), Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati) volleyball standout Dani Reinert (Buffalo) and Colerain (Cincinnati) basketball standout Ashley Wanninger (Xavier) are among the female nominees.
Recruiting news
Deer Park (Cincinnati) running back/outside linebacker Ben Flamm, a 2010 graduate, recently committed to play football at Thomas More College. …Walnut Hills (Cincinnati) senior-to-be Benson Browne (6-6, 237) recently added offers from North Carolina State and Marshall. He also has offers from Illinois, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisville, Minnesota, Miami (Ohio) and Central Michigan. …Hamilton Badin senior-to-be quarterback Patrick Coyne recently added an offer from Tennessee. Coyne, who is 6-2 and 225 pounds, remains orally committed to the University of Cincinnati. Coyne committed to the Bearcats in late March.
Random thoughts
The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors recently approved a proposal to implement a dual meet state wrestling tournament to begin during the 2012-13 school year. …Wayne (Huber Heights) track star Demoye Bogle (Ohio State commit) won the 110-meter high hurdles at the Midwest Meet of Champions June 12 at Fort Wayne, Ind. , according to the Dayton Daily News. …The OHSAA denied a proposal to allow basketball teams to play 22 regular-season games during the 2011-12 school year. Teams are allowed to play 20 regular-season games.
