KEARNEY - Proud parents, coaches, teachers and classmates watched Wednesday as eight Kearney High student-athletes signed letters of intent to play collegiate athletics on national signing day.

Two Bearcats will be become Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Spencer Lindsay was an all-state honorable mention kicker for Kearney, splitting the uprights on 31 of 31 point-after kicks in 2011 while converting a season-long 48-yard field goal. He will follow in the footsteps of former Bearcat Brett Maher, and kick for the Huskers.

"It was a real tough decision," Lindsay said. "It came down to walking on at Nebraska and taking a scholarship with Northwest Missouri State or North Dakota State. But in the end, Lincoln was just where I wanted to be."

Lindsay was in contact with Maher, who received the Big Ten's top kicker and punter awards in 2011, throughout the recruiting process.

"I talked to Brett quite a bit," Lindsay said. "He's been extremely helpful during the process and I was able to call him and ask him questions because he went through a similar thing in 2007 that I'm going through now. He was definitely a big part in the decision that I made."

Jacob Olson, who was named the Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, will run cross country and track for the Huskers. Most recently Olson took second place at the Nebraska state cross country meet, leading Kearney to the Class A state title. He was the state cross country champion as a junior.

"On a visit there I really liked their team and all the facilities," said Olson, who made his decision just a week prior to signing. "They just got a new distance head coach and he's trying to build up the program so it's going to be a great thing to be a part of."

A pair of Kearney football players will remain teammates, as Grady Donohoe and Tony Jenniges signed their letter of intent to play football for Fort Hays State.

"The closeness and the facilities are real nice, and I like all the coaches," Donohoe said.

"We'll room together, so it will be nice knowing someone down there," said Jenniges said. "We'll work hard together."

Donohoe expects to play center for the Tigers, while Jenniges will play on the defensive line.

A fourth Bearcat football player, Trey Andersen, will stay home to play for the UNK Lopers.

"They gave me a good offer and I really liked the campus and coaches on my visit," he said. "I'm excited for the move they made to the MIAA, it should be fun with really good competition."

Kearney High's Nicole Potthoff signed with UNK too, and will join the Loper soccer program. The midfielder said it was a really good fit for her, and she had made up her mind a couple months prior to signing day.

Nate Mishou will also play soccer at the collegiate level, signing with Midland University.

"I've known for probably two to three months that I was going there," Mishou said. "I like all the coaches and there are a lot of foreign kids coming in, so it'll be great to not only play there, but to learn new customs and traditions from them while playing."

Nolan Zimmer, Olson's shadow throughout the cross country seasons, signed with Northwest Missouri State.

"The thing that sold me was the atmosphere on campus," Zimmer said. "The size is perfect for me and they have a really good education program so it will fit my major perfectly. On the running side, they have an up-and-coming cross country program so I look forward to compete in the conference."

Other area athletes who announced their college plans Wednesday include:

• Garrett Kolling, Alma, football at Fort Hays State.

• Kai Wolfe, Alma, football at Iowa Western.

• Hailey Kring, Axtell, track at UNK.

• Kelli Bauer, Pleasanton, track at UNK.

• Lance English of S-E-M, football at Doane College.

• Dexter Becker of Southern Valley, football at UNK.