Orange Lutheran's Sam Utu is the Orange County Boys Athlete of the Year

ORANGE COUNTY BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2025-26

Name: Sam Utu

School: Orange Lutheran

Year: Senior

Sports: Football, volleyball

Notable highlights: Not many high school athletes excel at football and volleyball. Especially not an athlete who is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds. Orange Lutheran's Sam Utu was that athlete.

Utu was an All-CIF Southern Section and All-Orange County first-team offensive tackle for the Lancers in football. He was also the CIF-SS Division 2 player of the year in volleyball.

Orange Lutheran had what might have been the biggest upset in the CIF-SS football playoffs. The Lancers beat top-seeded St. John Bosco, 20-19, in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs a few weeks after losing to Bosco 48-0.

Utu was also All-County first team in volleyball. He led the Lancers to the CIF-SS Division 2 championship. Orange Lutheran later advanced to the CIF Southern California Regional Division II final.

Great memories, for certain, for his senior year. But not his favorite memories.

"I definitely will most remember the relationships I built in our school over my four years," Utu said. "And I'll always remember all the people there who helped me in my athletics and my academics, the camaraderie and the love that was poured into me."

Utu will play football at Southern Methodist University. He had committed to Alabama but signed instead with SMU.

"When I get to my later stage in life," he said, "athletics won't be there for me. Alabama and all of the ACC institutions are great institutions. Education is the passport to success and what better place to get that than at SMU."

Sports and classwork were not the only activities that kept Utu busy. He also sings in the Orange Lutheran choir and participates in the school's theatrical productions.

All of which impressed Orange Lutheran volleyball coach Henry Valiente.

"What was always great about him were his actions on and off the court and the way he treated everyone," Valiente said.

"He had to balance so many things, like singing in the choir, being in the school musicals, playing football and volleyball," Valiente said. "We had a volleyball playoff game and he had to go from singing in the musical to changing his clothes for volleyball and then changing clothes again to get back to the musical. He put in the time and effort for everything because he would never let anyone down."

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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 9:08 AM.