Matt and I headed to Newark, OH to visit with Coach Randy Baughman (pictured above – check out the whole gallery here) at Licking Valley High School. I’m sure I’m not the first person to ever notice the big basket-shaped building in Newark, Ohio; home of the Longaberger Basket Company. But, Matt and I had to stop as it made for a great photo opportunity.

We arrived at Licking Valley High School and toured the football stadium and weight room. Matt jumped the hurdles on the track, and I got a little work out in on the bench press. We met Coach Baughman in his office. He was thrilled that Storm Klein will be representing Team USA in Junior World Championship. He described Klein as a gifted, tough and competitive athlete. Licking Valley will be hard pressed to find someone to replace Klein. As Baughman said, “We just kinda Rode Storm” during the play-offs. Coach Baughman encouraged Storm to play for Team USA, as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a chance to represent the USA.

Teammate Vince German talked about playing with Klein the past four years. German described Klein as a great athlete, but a better friend. He said, “it was an honor to play with Storm.” German will be heading to play for Bowling Green this fall.

Ohio State has produced some of the finest linebackers in college football like Pepper Johnson and Chris Spielman. More recently, AJ Hawk and James Laurinaitis have added to that legacy. Looking to continue the Ohio State linebacker tradition is Licking Valley’s Storm Klein (pictured above being honored at the 2009 OSU Spring Game).

Klein, who finished high school early so he could enroll at Ohio State in time to participate in spring football practice, got his first taste of what Buckeye football is all about during Saturday’s spring game.  Klein played linebacker and was on the kickoff and kickoff return teams and finished with four tackles.

Klein will play for Team USA in the Junior World Championship in Canton. We are headed to Licking Valley High School in Newark, Ohio to meet his coach, Randy Baughman. Since Baughman took over as head coach in 1982, Licking Valley has produced seven perfect regular seasons. With Klein on their roster, the Panthers compiled a 43-7 record and won all 28 MSL-Ohio Division games. During his junior year, Klein played in part of the 2007 state final — a 17-10 loss to Big Walnut — with a lacerated kidney. The Panthers lost in a Division III state semifinal this year. Klein is his first Ohio State recruit.

Check out the video of Coach Kyle talking about Storm Klein and his Buckeye/Team USA teammate Jack Mewhort.

The USA Football Road Tour will be passing through Newark, Ohio on this date:

• Tue, April 28

Check back on this post to see where Matt and Mick will be setting up or follow the Road Tour’s Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/TeamUSAFootball.