TOLEDO, Ohio — Early signing day marked the first opportunity this school year for student-athletes in high school to officially commit to playing at the next level.
Across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan on Wednesday, ceremonies took place to spotlight the recognition.
You can text WTOL 11 at 419-248-1100 to add to our list. Be sure to include name, school and picture of the student-athlete.
Student-athletes ink commitments during early signing day period
Anthony Wayne
- Elise Bender - Villanova basketball
- Brooke Bender - Villanova basketball
- Molly Conner - Notre Dame softball
- Julia Diller - Thomas More University lacrosse
- Owen Graf - Ohio State baseball
- Kate Hildebrand - Youngstown State swimming
- Addison Williams - University of Findlay soccer
"It's really nice to see all the work pay off, bit by bit. I've been working honestly since I was 4 or 5, playing ball in the backyard," Graf said. "Never stop working, got to stay consistent and just trusting in the path of God. Playing hard and having fun."
"It feels awesome, I've been waiting for so long since I committed a little over a year ago but I'm excited to be officially Irish and the next four years with them," Conner said. "Definitely feels so much more real like it's coming soon, but I know I have business to finish here with the softball team my senior year."
Bedford
- Alivia Brown - Bowling Green volleyball
- Victoria Gray - Indiana volleyball
- Aubrey Hensley - Toledo softball
- Kaylin Schroeder - Eastern Michigan volleyball
- Nyah Mullins - Walters State softball
"I'm so excited, I never thought ever that I would be here." Gray said. "But I am here now and I can't wait to see what happens in the next four years."
"I really appreciate it. Bedford has always been the community to come out and support us," Schroeder said. "Every volleyball game they're always here and it just makes me really happy to see everyone come out tonight."
Findlay
- Ava Buddelmeyer - Bowling Green volleyball
- Payson Dotson - Queens University of Charlotte, NC golf
Lake
- Drew Tajblik - Toledo baseball
- Diem Isbell - Detroit Mercy softball
"I've always wanted to stay local. I like being home, I'm a homebody," Tajblik said. "And playing at home is like playing with my community the whole time like I've been doing my whole life."
"It was on my list to go D-1, especially my dad's and I wanted to accomplish this for my dad," Isbell said. "And I'm here now."
Maumee
- Lydia Christenson - Defiance College volleyball
Notre Dame
- Amira DuPree - West Liberty volleyball
- Avery Lipstraw - Seton Hill volleyball
- Aly Peckham - Toledo soccer
- Sophia Santacroce - Johnson & Wales volleyball
- Mary Snyder - Robert Morris hockey
Perrysburg
- Marcus Blaze - Penn State wrestling
- Alyssa Bradford - University of Findlay softball
- Katherine Cromly - Louisville rowing
- Cole Evans - West Virginia wrestling
- Victoria Grayson - Louisville rowing
- Hayley Griggs - Florida State softball
- Chloe Kilbride - Saginaw Valley State basketball
- Grace Lagendonk - University of Findlay soccer
- Natalie Sanders - University of Illinois-Chicago swimming
"You can look at their program and the individuals after their program and see that they've won Olympic and World Championships. That's my main goal," Blaze said. "I feel like Perrysburg is Penn State, a powerhouse in Ohio and hopefully we can win a team state championship this year."
"It means a lot, shows how much hard work I've put in and it's a big moment for me because I'm officially going there. I can't wait to get down there and play at the next level," Griggs said. "Perrysburg is a super good athletic school and there's a ton of great signees today. Just trying to represent Perrysburg as best I can down there as well."
St. John's
- Donovan Mattimore - Jackson College baseball
- Kenyon Miller - Jackson College baseball
St. Ursula
- Devin Dzienny - Florida volleyball
- Emma Jones - Heidelberg soccer
"The support system I have, especially club, legacy volleyball club has really helped me out a lot from such a small area in Toledo to get far in where I wanted to go," Dzienny said. "And just my parents have been a huge support system taking me to practice an hour away."
"It's super exciting. I've worked hard for the past I don't even know how many years, but volleyball has always been a dream of mine in college and to actually fulfill that and put pen to paper today it was really exciting." Jones said. "And seeing all my accomplishments come true is a really great feeling."
Springfield
- Camryn Hall - Grand Valley State Softball
- Hannah Schlachter - Detroit Mercy Softball