I think I might have a cleaner way.
If you don't set a variable's value to start with, it is blank when you use it. So, technically all you would have to do is have code like this:
<SELECT NAME="test">
<option value="1" <%=select1%>>Option 1</option>
<option value="2" <%=select2%>>Option 2</option>
<option value="3" <%=select3%>>Option 3</option>
<option value="4" <%=select4%>>Option 4</option>
</SELECT>
Then, somewhere above this, just set whichever one you want to "selected". So, if I wanted option 3 to start, I would just do (before you write the HTML)
<% select3 = "selected"%>
Since the others are blank by default, they will write nothing. The select3 will put the "selected" because you set its value. This way you don't have to check all four each time.