PARIS — NCAA Division I athletes aren’t plentiful in Maine, and they are especially rare in the rural, less affluent regions of the state.

Such signings certainly aren’t an annual event at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, so the odds of having two recruits within the same senior class are remote, indeed.

You might say that lightning struck twice … again.

The Vikings celebrated Wednesday’s National Signing Day with the announcement that Mikayla Morin will play women’s soccer and Davis Turner will continue his football career, each at the University of Maine.

Turner and Morin sealed their commitments by signing National Letters of Intent in a 2:30 p.m. gathering at the school library, attended by more than 30 family, friends and faculty.

“It’s been a long trip,” Turner, a 6-foot, 205-Pound linebacker, said. “Today has been great. I’ve definitely been waiting for it, since I went up for my visit. It’s very exciting.”

“Division I was always a goal of mine,” Morin said. “I wanted to get there, but if I didn’t get there, I was going to be OK with that.”

It was a special day at Oxford Hills, but not an unprecedented event on at least two fronts.

McKayla Bell (women’s soccer) and Jacob Folz (football) graduated from the school in 2003 before advancing to four-year careers at Maine.

And Turner joins his older brother, Dexter, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive lineman who redshirted this past season with the Black Bears after starring at Oxford Hills and Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.

“We’re going to build together,” Turner said. “I enjoyed playing with him back in high school, but this is a whole new level.”

Turner led Class A East with 104 tackles as a senior and was named defensive player of the year in the conference. The Vikings won four games and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Morin scored more than 40 career goals for the Vikings and was 2014 KVAC player of the year, but arguably her most significant soccer achievements have come with the Greater Portland-based Seacoast United travel team.

It was Morin’s play at a national tournament in Florida that convinced Maine coach Scott Atherley and his staff that she could compete at that level, she said.

“That was the first time he really saw me. That’s kind of when it hit me that I could reach that goal,” Morin said. “A couple of other girls from my Seacoast United team have committed there.”

This past season, only six of Maine’s 25 players were in-state products. One, senior goalie Elise Applegate, is from Lewiston and graduated from Saint Dominic Academy.

Laura Martel of Lewiston High School also excelled for the Black Bears in recent years.

“Just knowing the team and stuff, a lot of them are from Canada and out of state,” Morin said. “Having players from in-state is a big deal.”

Turner is one of at least two homegrown commitments to the football program. Cheverus running back Joe Fitzpatrick also signed Wednesday with Maine.

Almost all incoming football players are held out of games as freshmen, maintaining their four full years of eligibility. Turner doesn’t expect to be an exception.

“My body’s got to grow, and I’m going to have to adapt to the lifestyle and improve in football itself,” Turner said. “It’s going to be a year of learning and growing. They want to get me up to 230 (pounds) and play linebacker.”

Turner also considered attending New Hampshire, where he would have been a walk-on.

UMass-Lowell, Saint Anselm and Saint Joseph’s were the other schools to show the most interest in Morin. She also expects a significant adjustment period.

“I think it’s still an aspect in soccer, just how they’re older and the age range is different,” Morin said. “A lot of the girls are a lot stronger in college than in high school and Seacoast stuff. That’s going to be the largest difference between what I’m playing now and playing up there.”

Both signees said that playing in multiple sports helped them strengthen their athletic skills.

Morin is a starter for the reigning Class A East girls’ basketball champions. Turner is a member of a cooperative hockey team with students from Oxford Hills, Lake Region and Fryeburg.

Oxford Hills’ strong community support also played an integral role in their success, they agreed.

“They’re very supportive of us,” Morin said. “With us being two Division I athletes, for those younger kids coming up, it’s going to be important for them to understand that they can get there and reach those goals they personally have.”

Morin plans to major in nursing; Turner, in physical education and kinesiology.

“When I went to Maine, I realized this is where I want to be,” Turner said. “I think it’s a great atmosphere. All the kids and coaches were great.”

koakes@sunjournal.com

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