OAKLAND -- High school students often have a hard time deciding what they want to do with the next four minutes of their life. But Messalonskee senior Beth Ridley is confident going to college in California is the right move.

"I really like traveling, and it's going to be different, but I'm really excited about it," said Ridley, who is heading to Stanford University on a field hockey scholarship. "It's definitely where I want to spend the next four years."

Ridley made her decision official by signing her National Letter of Intent at a Wednesday afternoon press conference at Messalonskee. Messalonskee senior Jesse Labreck also signed her letter to attend the University of Maine on a track scholarship.

"I really like the school," Labreck said, "and I have so much family that I just didn't want to leave the state."

Winslow's Don Clark signed to play football at the University of Maine, where he will receive a full scholarship.

The National Letter of Intent is a document under which the student-athlete agrees to attend an NCAA college or university for at least one year, and the school agrees to provide financial aid. Wednesday was the first day students could sign the letter.

Ridley, one of the top goalies in the state the last four years, said she will be receiving 65 percent of the $55,000 per year it costs to attend Stanford. She said the school provides only 12 field hockey scholarships, and players each get partial scholarships.

"It's about the same price to go to (UMaine), which is nice," Ridley said. "It's kind of scary, because it's the end of recruiting, but it's exciting because it's the beginning of being an official Stanford field hockey player."

Ridley plans to pursue a double major in philosophy and psychology. Labreck said she hopes to major in either elementary education or kinesiology.

Unlike Ridley, Labreck still has a portion of her high school athletic career ahead. She holds state records in the 55-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the triple jump.

"I'm hoping to break the rest of my state records that I do my events in," she said.

A 6-foot-4, 275 pound lineman, Clark played just two years of football at Winslow after transferring from Erskine Academy. Clark is the defending Class B champion in the shot put and hopes to compete for the Maine track and field team, as well.

"He's a diamond in the rough," Winslow football coach Mike Siviski said of Clark. "He only played two years. He's got all kinds of physical skills. Obviously, they're recruiting size and potential."

Clark, who plans to major in secondary education, decided on Maine after his visit to the campus.

"I've wanted to go to UMaine since my freshman year, and when they told me I could play football, too, that made it even better," Clark said. "The team, it's almost like a brotherhood. It's one big family."

Clark said he plans to redshirt the 2008 season. For now, he thinks the Black Bears will use him on the defensive line, but Clark would be happy to play anywhere.

"My goal is just to get on that field," Clark said.

Travis Lazarczyk contributed to this report

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com