It's the end of an era in West St. Paul when Carl Lemke decided to retire after 23 years as head coach of the St. Croix Lutheran football team.
Before he came to the West St. Paul school, he coached at Martin Luther Academy in New Ulm in 1968. He also heading football programs in Wisconsin, including Wisconsin Lutheran Academy in Milwaukee and Martin Luther Preparatory School in Prairie du Chien.
In addition to coaching the Crusaders, Lemke also was St. Croix Lutheran's activities director, a position he retired from in 2015.
Under Lemke's leadership, St. Croix Lutheran has played in eight state tournaments and won two state Class AAA championships in 2011 and 2013. The 2013 Class AAA final was a back and forth affair against the New London-Spicer Wildcats that the Crusaders won 48-44 as they racked up 426 rushing yards. St. Croix Lutheran also played in the 2016 and 2017 state Class AAA title games but they came up short, losing to Rochester Lourdes and Pierz.
Lemke also entered the record books in 2018 when he won his 300th career game on September 28 against the Minneapolis Washburn Millers 28-14. He's the seventh coach in Minnesota high school football history to reach that milestone.
Next season, the Crusaders football program will be led by Adam Frey. Can he help the West St. Paul school return to US Bank Stadium and compete for another Class AAA title in 2019?
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