DULUTH — Duluth East’s Bonnie Fuller-Kask is no stranger to chasing history.
The longtime Greyhounds head coach has spent the last two-plus decades building a statewide Nordic skiing power, a legacy that was cemented last year with her induction into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Nordic Ski Hall of Fame.
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Fuller-Kask’s tenure includes eight state championships and seven runner-up finishes. Twice she coached East to boys and girls state titles in the same year — 2011 and 2023 — something that has only been done seven times since girls skiing was added in 1976.
“I feel like it’s such a compliment to be inducted, just because it was the coaches nominating me and voting,” Fuller-Kask said. “It means a lot that it came from all of them. I’ve had so much fun coaching, and the kids here are just so great.”
The 110-plus kids in Duluth East’s program share the same admiration and respect for Fuller-Kask as she has for them. Anna-Britta Helmer, a senior, said Fuller-Kask has built the program on friendship, support and inclusion, and that’s why they succeed.
“Bonnie is amazing,” Helmer said. “She supports everyone through everything. If you have a bad day, she checks in, makes sure you’re OK, and she’s just really kind and supportive, which makes her an amazing coach. She truly cares about every skier.”
Helmer knows Fuller-Kask and Greyhounds Nordic skiing as well as anyone in the program. She’s been pivotal in each of Duluth East’s state titles in the last two years and she’s flourishing again this winter.
In the final regular season meet of the year on Jan. 30, the Duluth East Pursuit Invite, Helmer finished second overall with a total time of 27 minutes, 51.7 seconds. Helmer trailed only Proctor/Hermantown’s Della Bettendorf, who posted a winning time of 25:59.
“Della is so strong, she amazes me,” Helmer said. “My motivation for the day was that it’s my last East meet, and one of my last high school meets. That gave me the extra push I needed to stay in position.”
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Duluth East skiers accounted for seven of the top 10 finishers on Thursday afternoon. The Greyhounds’ success reaffirmed Helmer’s belief that, despite graduating a litany of talent last year, Duluth East is poised to make another postseason run this winter.
“We’ve had a really strong season,” Helmer said. “We’re so strong because our team has so much depth. Skiers who didn’t have an opportunity to race last year are getting their chance. We’re super excited to show what we can do at sections and hopefully state.”
Duluth East senior Kate Schiller, who finished 24th at the pursuit with a time of 32:51.7, is one of three girls Nordic captains, alongside classmate Edie Broadmoore and the aforementioned Helmer.
Being one of the primary leaders for a team as large and successful as Duluth East has given Schiller the opportunity to speak with all kinds of teammates — longtime program veterans and rookie skiers alike. They all share one primary goal.
“We want to win a third (state championship),” Schiller said. “Just being there and watching the state meet, it’s so fun seeing that we have had the top team the last couple of years, it’s great.”
Two years ago, the Greyhounds won the state championship with 387 points, edging out Stillwater Area’s runner-up score of 363. One year later, Duluth East was back atop the podium with a 12-point victory over second-placed Minneapolis Washburn.
The success at the highest level of the sport in each of the last two years paved the way for this winter, an opportunity to be the first program to win three straight state titles since Wayzata did it from 2013 to 2015.
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“Our girls are looking strong this year,” Fuller-Kask said. “I think they have a good shot at the top five and a shot at the top three. After that, it all kind of depends, but I certainly wouldn’t count (our girls) out because they are strong and ski very well.”
Fuller-Kask indicated that it’s often difficult to assess how her program will stack up against other statewide contenders, since the first time they square off is typically at the state tournament.
Regardless if Duluth East has seen other perennial powers or not, the Greyhounds are confident in their skiers and the program that has fostered success for decades. There is no way Helmer would rather end her high school career than hoisting a state title.
“That would be so incredible,” Helmer said. “It’s been such an awesome experience to be part of such a strong team and have the opportunity to win the past two years. I’m ready for anything at state and I’m super excited to see what we’re going to accomplish.”
Duluth East junior boys lead the way
The Greyhounds are coming off a runner-up finish at the 2024 state championships, a title they came within a half-dozen points of winning. Wayzata ultimately claimed top honors, but Duluth East is back with a young, talented squad.
Duluth East relied on senior contributions last year, but a large group of sophomores including Mark Goettel and Ben Pilate, who took second in the team sprint at state, are back this winter as part of a stacked junior class.
“They’re here and part of that strong group of juniors, and they’re skiing really well again this year,” Fuller-Kask said. “They’re part of our powerhouse group of juniors.”
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Goettel finished second while Pilate notched an eighth-place finish at the Duluth East Pursuit Invite on Thursday afternoon. Fuller-Kask said it’s exciting to have a promising group of skiers ready to compete with multiple years left.
“We’ve got this group of juniors, and a few sophomores and seniors, so it’s a young team that is doing well,” Fuller-Kask said. “They’re skiing fast and it’s really exciting to think how they’ll do, because a lot of them have another year.”
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