Hall of Fame: Distinguished Athlete Matt Luedtke

Matt Luedtke, an inductee into the 2023 Ronan Hall of Fame, was recognized as Montana’s “Gatorade Player of the Year” in high school basketball in 2000 following a stellar senior season at Ronan. The award “recognizes the nation’s most elite high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character.”

Luedtke is the only Ronan athlete ever honored with this prestigious award.

Following a junior season in which he was named All-Conference and All-State, Luedtke as a senior continued his development as a player and added his name to several Chief basketball single season records. He scored 582 total points and averaged 26.5 points per game – both marks were the best in Chief history.

Twice he scored 50 points in a single game, in Libby and Columbia Falls. His 13 successful three-pointers against Libby stood as a single game state record for several years as did his 100 successful three-pointers in a season. For a second time, he was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams. 

The final honor in his senior season was selection to participate in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star basketball game.

Behind his play, the Chiefs completed the 2000 conference season with a 17-1 record and were ranked No. 3 in the final State Class A Power Poll. During a four-point loss to Stevensville in the semi-finals of the Divisional Tournament, Luedtke’s 25 points led all scorers.

Luedtke began his collegiate career with the University of Montana, transferred to the Colorado School of Mines, and played his senior season at the University of Montana Western in Dillon. He now is head coach at Butte High School, where his son, Hudson Luedtke, is a force on the team.