LEXINGTON — The road to Durham, N.C., evidently runs through Lexington.
Brandon Leynaud became the most recent Lex wrestler to sign with Duke University, officially inking with the Blue Devils during the early signing period last week.
Leynaud, who was 46-10 and qualified for the state meet as a junior, will join Jake Faust and Jacob Kasper on Duke’s campus in Durham, N.C., next fall. Brandon Gambucci, another former Lex standout, is a redshirt senior with the Blue Devils this year.
“I think we are the only high school in the country with three guys in the starting lineup for the same Division I team,” Lexington coach Brent Rastetter said. “We are glad our guys are getting the chance to wrestle at the Division I level and get an education from one of the best academic universities in the country.”
It was a busy period at Lexington as four other senior athletes signed letters of intent. Bailey Faust, who was 54-3 for Rastetter last winter and finished fifth at state, signed to wrestle at West Virginia University. The 195-pounder picked West Virginia over Maryland and Appalachian State and was one of 12 wrestlers nationwide to sign with the Mountaineers.
“This is pretty special for the wrestling program,” Rastetter said. “We have got some other guys who may end up with a Division I program.”
Alannah Lemming signed to play volleyball at Wright State. The All-Ohio honorable mention selection helped lead Lady Lex to a district runner-up finish last month.
Evan Lee signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Kent State. The All-Ohio first team pick batted .468 with 20 runs batted in last spring.
Abbie Sgro signed to play softball with Ashland University. Sgro struck out a whopping 317 hitters last spring and had a 0.83 earned run average. She was an All-Ohio second team pick.
A pair of Madison baseball players also inked last week. Hunter Ackerman is headed to Grace (Ind.) College, an NAIA school, while Josh Smith signed with Ashland.
Ackerman batted .446 and was the District 9 Player of the Year in Division I last spring.
“Hunter is one of the finest young men I’ve had the pleasure to coach,” Madison baseball coach and athletic director Doug Rickert said. “Not only is he a terrific athlete, but he is a fine student as well. Grace is getting a good one in Hunter.”
A pitcher and first baseman, Smith emerged last spring as the Rams won the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship. He was a District 9 and OCC second team pick.
Galion’s Reanne Neal is headed to Ashland University to play volleyball. Neal was the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference player of the year and an All-Ohio second team selection in Division II.
