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Fred Friedman, legendary Duluth Denfeld grad and retired chief public defender – "Proud of my alma mater. I thought injuries held them back the last two seasons. No substitute for being a senior. Congratulations to every player and coaches Homere, Harris, Gregory and Gamble. The only way the student-athletes can thank Denfeld is by becoming a lifelong champion off the court as well as on."
Dukes Knutson, retired Duluth Public Schools teacher and coach – "I don’t think most people understand how difficult it is to reach a state tournament. The work ethic, the sacrifice, the discipline, the meshing of personalities. Having taught and coached in Duluth for 34 years, I’m awed by any team or individual that makes it to state. Congratulations and blessings to those fighting Hunters."
Don Ness, former Duluth mayor and Duluth Central basketball great – "Way to go, Hunters! I've seen this team play a few times this year. They're a fun team to watch – dynamic athletes playing with improved focus and discipline. Their guard play has been a strength in recent years, and now they have some young post players who are learning to be a presence in the lane on both ends of the court. Our family is a big fan of Lee Brooks – we are thrilled for him and this team."
Tara Swenson, District 4 Duluth City Councilor – "I’ve never played basketball myself, but I couldn’t be prouder of the Denfeld boys as they represent Class 3A, Section 7 at next week’s Minnesota Boys Basketball State Tournament. Their hard work, dedication, and team spirit have brought them to this moment, and the Duluth community is behind them. Sports have a unique way of strengthening a community not just by bringing people together in the stands, but by teaching young athletes the values of overcoming obstacles, teamwork, and leadership. The lessons learned on the court carry far beyond the game but rather into our everyday lives. Best of luck, Hunters."
Matt Baumgartner, president, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce – "As a former high school basketball player in Duluth, I know firsthand how special this moment is for Denfeld, its players, coaches, and the entire community. Earning a spot in the Minnesota State Tournament is a remarkable achievement that will be remembered for years to come. Beyond the excitement of this run, Denfeld’s success has the power to unite our city and inspire future generations of young athletes across the region. I have no doubt that this will have lasting, positive impacts on our basketball community, strengthening the sport in Duluth for years to come. Congratulations to the Hunters – go make history!"
Andy Fenske, Hermantown boys basketball head coach – "It was great to see the Hunters and Coach Homere complete their regular season and section playoff expectations and be able to cut down the nets. I told coach to make sure that they make a statement on behalf of Section 7 down there next week. And, more importantly, while I hope that the squad does well, I hope to see some of the boys get put onto coaches' radar while they're down there, especially MarNarias. It's a shame that coaches aren't lining up to talk to that kid and get him on their roster but this is his chance, along with the rest of the team, to prove them all wrong for overlooking these young men. I'll be cheering them on next week for sure."
Steve Battaglia, retiring Cloquet boys basketball head coach – "I’m very happy for Coach (Phill) Homere and the Denfeld community. There are some similarities between the blue-collar nature of Cloquet and Denfeld. I often find myself pulling for Denfeld if Cloquet isn’t in the mix. My son (Jack) had the chance to play AAU with Marnaries Ferguson this last spring/summer so we got to know him a little bit – he’s a great kid and heck of a basketball player. After being decimated by injuries last season when they were one of the favorites, this year they came on strong with some size to complement good guard play. They’ll represent Section 7 well."
Brian Prudhomme, local radio play-by-play announcer – “The overall sentiment from people is being happy for the program. Phill has done a nice job with the kids, and 21 years since the last appearance is a long wait. Perhaps it’s only fitting that the new all-time leading scorer, MarNaries Ferguson, gets them there. I often think of prior Denfeld players like Jon Trebesch in the late 90s, Derek Meger in the 2010s, and more recent guys like Josh Reinertsen. Each of them could really play but never got this opportunity. Hopefully the Hunters enjoy it.”
Patrick Bergquist, Duluth Denfeld alum and former professional baseball player – "I am extremely happy for the Hunters players, staff and the entire school. Winning the section for the first time in over 20 years is a fantastic accomplishment. Coach Homere has done a very nice job since taking over and building them into consistent contenders. Getting over the hump so to speak can be the toughest part of building a program. Now that they’ve taken the next step, don't be satisfied. Go make some noise at state and take advantage of the opportunity. The Hunters faithful will be cheering from near and far."
