Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — One of the most exciting athletes and dynamic playmakers in recent H-DNL history may have moved on to newer challenges, but he leaves in his wake an impressive resume of success and one that won’t easily be surpassed.

A six-time All-League selection in a pair of sports, and a three-time conference MVP, Arcata’s Luke Lemke led the Tigers to previously unchartered territory.

And he did so in thrilling fashion.

He played a key role on the school’s march to a first-ever North Coast Section championship in football as a junior, and quickly followed that with the sort of performance that will be remembered for generations in leading the same team to a first-ever state championship.

He was every bit as impressive on the basketball court, earning Big 5 MVP honors as a junior and scoring a school-record 51 points in a game against Fortuna earlier this year.

He closed out his high school career with two more All-League selections in football and basketball, once again leading the way on a pair of Arcata teams that had taken a step back from the previous year.

But even considering that, he continued to keep both of those rosters playing at a high level.

All of that makes Lemke the 2026 Humboldt Sports Big 5 Boys Athlete of the Year.

Next up, Lemke will play football at state JC powerhouse Golden West College in Huntington Beach in 2027 after being sidelined this fall while recovering from wrist surgery.

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He could have played basketball at the next level and says he considered it, but ultimately he knew football is where his heart is and the decision was a relatively easy one.

Remarkably, he has only played football for three years, first taking the field as a sophomore.

He was named MVP of the Little 4 that fall, and would follow that with a Big 5 MVP on the basketball courts that winter.

He added a third career high school MVP award in football as a junior.

He says one of his favorite moments from his high school career was rushing for a state record 432 yards and seven touchdowns against McKinleyville last fall, as well as the two thrilling comeback victories over Ferndale during his sophomore year, two wins that helped secure the first of two league titles during his time with the team.

Lemke beat out a deep and talented pool of very worthy candidates for the Athlete of the Year award.

And as always, a big thank you to our award sponsors, Mendes Supply Company and Bode Construction.