Flanagan High School "Falcons"

Flanagan High School Building

Courtesy of Kev Varney

The History of Flanagan High School

Flanagan (population 1,100) is located in central Illinois in Livingston County, about 30 miles north of Bloomington-Normal, along Illinois Route 116 (aka Falcon Highway). The community was formed in 1880 by three brothers, Edward, Patrick, and Peter Flanagan, whose land was used to plot the town. Flanagan was also situated along a railroad line for the Illinois Central between Kankakee and Minonk that was beneficial in shipping quite a bit of grain from some of the finest farmland in the Midwest.

Education in the area began as early as 1856 in Nebraska Township in the western part of Livingston County called Bureau School, which was named after settlers who had moved there from Bureau County in Illinois. J.A. Dakin was the teacher of that first school, The original Flanagan High School was opened as a two-year school in 1900, and became a four-year school at a later date.

The first class graduated in 1902, which included Louella Zook, Julia Cohn, Ola Jane Litchfield, Ernest Pearson, John Van Doren, Orville Talbott, and Grover Daniels. In 1925, the school was moved into a building that was previously occupied by the grade school that had been built in 1890, then moved into the building seen at the top of this page in 1941. Over time, the junior high school and grade school wings were added to the building to house students from K-12. In addition, a swimming pool was added to the complex in 1975-76.

Flanagan has had a close relationship with neighboring Cornell. In the fall of 1987, high school students from the latter community started attending Flanagan when Cornell deactivated its school due to financial issues. A high school board of education continued to operate in both communities, until it was decided in a vote of both communities in February 2008 to annex the high school from Cornell and allow the grade school in Cornell to operate under a separate board of education. As a result, the new district is called Flanagan-Cornell High School, and its' district number is 74 (the adding of the two former district numbers: 70 from Cornell, 4 from Flanagan).

FACTS ABOUT FLANAGAN HIGH SCHOOL

Year first opened (as a 2-yr school): 1900

First graduation: 1902 (7 students)

Moved into newer building: 1925

More recent building completed: 1941

Year renamed Flanagan-Cornell: 2008

School colors: Orange & Black

School nickname: "Falcons"

School song: "FHS Loyalty"

Lyrics Provided by AMY (ZEHR) ALBI

We’re loyal to you, FHS!

We’ll always be true, FHS!

Our team is the best,

And we’ll fight with the zest

That spells victory to you, FHS!

So here’s to the orange and the black

With spirit that we’ll never lack!

We’ll fight to the end for you,

Our will is not ”die” but “do”

So victory to you, FHS!

SHA HEE, SHA HAH, SHA HAH, HAH, HAH!

FLANAGAN HIGH SCHOOL

RAH, RAH, RAH!

Flanagan Football Field

Home of the Falcons

ATHLETICS

Flanagan was a charter member of the Midstate Conference when it formed in December 1948 along with Chenoa, Cornell, El Paso, Fairbury, Gridley, Lexington, and Minonk-Dana. Over time, some of the members changed but the competition level was consistant as the Falcons and their fellow members hooked up in some memorable contests over the years. The conference later closed shop in 2006 and most of its members (Flanagan included) joined up with the Heart of Illinois Conference, continuing with the same rivalries and starting new ones as well.

Most of the information you will see below about the Falcons' athletic endeavors starts with the spring of 1949, thanks to information from Midstate Conference historian Merlin Haas of El Paso in a book he compiled in 1999 called "The Midstate Conference Reference Book: 1949 to 1999: Celebrating 50 Years of Athletic Excellence." There are gaps in some sports that need to be updated as you read this page on Flanagan, and we encourage anyone who may know more to contact us with updated information to make this listing as accurate as possible.

Flanagan offered football, basketball, baseball, and track to its students, and also had wrestling, golf, and swimming (on a co-op basis with nearby Pontiac) for the boys. The girls had volleyball, basketball, softball, track, and golf, and also co-oped with Pontiac for swimming and cross-country. Also, the school was involved in several co-op agreements with Streator Woodland which was beneficial to both schools in those sports.

FOOTBALL

The Falcons enjoyed success on the gridiron as the first school to be crowned state champions in the first-ever Class 1A playoffs in 1974, and were competitive in the Midstate Conference as well as the Heart of Illinois Conference, winning or sharing at least seven titles since 1949. During that time, the school made 12 appearances in the playoffs, the last two with Streator Woodland as part of a co-op agreement. Here’s a look at some of the better teams in school history:

1949 8-1 Midstate Champions Coach Noble Arnold

1956 5-4 Coach Stan Olson

1957 6-2 Coach William Booker

1960 Midstate Sportsmanship Award coach unknown

1961 7-1 Shared Midstate title w/Chenoa Coach Dean Puyear

1963 5-1-2 Coach Dean Puyear

1964 5-2-1 Coach Dean Puyear

1965 5-2-1 Coach Dean Puyear

1966 6-2 Coach Dean Puyear

1967 5-3 Coach Dean Puyear

1968 7-1 Midstate Champions Coach Bill Farrell

Midstate Sportsmanship Award Winner

1970 6-1-1 Midstate Champions Coach Gary Close

1971 5-3 Coach Rick Shemansky

1973 6-2-1 Coach Roger Zehr

1974 12-0 1A STATE CHAMPIONS!! Coach Roger Zehr

Midstate Champions

Shutout Cullom Tri-Point 56-0 in first round

Downed Stronghurst Southern 46-12 in quarterfinals

Beat Genoa-Kingston 37-7 in semifinals

Edged Concord Triopia 13-8 in title game

Flanagan 1A State Football Champs

Courtesy of Brian Gundy

Front row: Mark Harms, Richard Hillman, Rodney Bertsche, Larry Bertsche, Phil Yordy, Kevin Anderson, Tim Kruger, Steve Cray, and Scott Birkey.

Second row: Head Coach Roger Zehr, Dirk Anderson, Kevin Bertsche, Gregg Gundy, Kent Schwerin, Brent Rocke, Dave Anderson, Curt Roeschley, assistant coach Roger Smith, and assistant coach Harrison Park.

Top row: Todd Birkey, Maurie Duffy, Craig Smith, John McDowell, Pat Renken, Jim Braksick, Jim Knight, Doug Saxton, Gregg Albertson, and Alan Collins.

1975 5-4 Coach Roger Zehr

1976 6-3 Coach Roger Zehr

1978 7-2 Coach Roger Zehr

1981 5-4 Coach Paul Crego

1982 7-2 Coach Brent Ehresman

1983 5-4 Coach Brent Ehresman

1984 8-2 Shared Midstate title w/El Paso Coach Brent Ehresman

State 1A Playoff Qualifiers

Lost to Bloomington Central Catholic in first round, 34-0

1985 7-3 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Jerry Pohl

Lost to Piper City Ford Central 28-6 in first round

1995 7-4 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Paul Crego

Edged Oneida ROWVA in first round, 14-13

Lost to Sciota Northwestern in second round, 34-8

1996 5-4 Coach Paul Crego

1997 7-3 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Paul Crego

Lost to Toulon Stark County in first round, 30-8

1998 5-4 Coach Paul Crego

1999 8-3 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Paul Crego

Shutout Jacksonville Routt 42-0 in first round

Lost to Virden in second round, 32-22

2001 5-5 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Jay Brainard

Lost to Concord Triopia 41-0 in first round

2002 5-5 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Ted O’Boyle

Edged by Bismarck-Henning in first round, 33-32 in 2 OT

2003 6-5 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Ted O’Boyle

Beat Monmouth Yorkwood in first round, 25-21

Defeated by Annawan in second round, 21-14 (O/T)

2004 8-3 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Ted O’Boyle

Got by Leroy in first round, 20-14

Defeated by Tuscola in second round, 44-38 (O/T)

As Flanagan-Woodland-Cornell (FWC) Co-Op

2006 8-3 State 1A Playoff Qualifiers Coach Ted O’Boyle

Edged Colfax Ridgeview 12-7 in first round

Shutout by Alden-Hebron in second round, 27-0

2007 11-1 Heart of Illinois Conf. Champs Coach Ted O’Boyle

Downed Watseka 28-21 in first round

Beat Clifton Central 42-6 in second round

Eliminated by Orion in quarterfinals, 35-7

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

The Falcons flew high to be atop the Midstate Conference standings, either winning or sharing the conference championship 11 times, and taking eight regional titles. Two teams made a run for the Class A state championship, taking home the second place trophy in 1983, led by seven-footer Bill Braksick and Matt Schwerin.

1949-50 coach unknown

1950-51 Coach Bill Poorbaugh

1951-52 Coach Bob Weldy

1952-53 14- 9 Coach Bob Weldy

1953-54 Coach Bob Weldy

1954-55 17- 9 Coach Bob Weldy

1955-58 Coach Bob Weldy

1958-59 15- 8 District Champions Coach Bill Booker

1959-60 16- 5 Midstate Champions Coach Bill Booker

1960-61 18- 5 (good record) Coach Don Holler

1961-62 Coach Don Holler

1962-63 Shared Midstate title w/Gridley Coach Don Holler

1963-64 13-10 Coach Don Holler

1964-65 19- 4 Midstate Champions Coach Don Holler

1965-66 12-11 Coach Ron Wimpy

1966-67 14-10 Coach Ron Johnson

1967-68 17- 7 Midstate Champions Coach Ron Johnson

1968-69 19- 7 Shared Midstate title w/Gridley Coach Ron Johnson

1969-70 15-10 Coach Jerry McGreal

1970-74 Coach Jerry Landrem

1974-75 13-10 Coach Roger Smith

1975-76 Coach Roger Smith

1976-77 12-10 Coach Roger Smith

1977-78 14-11 Regional Champions Coach Roger Smith

Lost to DePue 54-50 in Wenona Sectional semifinals

1978-80 Coach Roger Smith

1980-81 22- 6 Co-Midstate chps w/Lexington Coach Roger Smith

Regional Champions

Lost to Manito Forman 38-37 in Normal U-High Sectional semifinals

1981-82 27- 3 CLASS A ELITE 8 FINALISTS Coach Jerry Pohl

Midstate Champions

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Defeated Cissna Park 60-40 at Pontiac Supersectional

Lost to Herscher 51-36 in state quarterfinals

1982-83 30- 1 2nd IN CLASS A STATE Coach Jerry Pohl

Midstate Champions (undefeated at 14-0)

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Defeated Hoopeston-East Lynn 87-60 at Pontiac Supersectional

Downed Tiskilwa in quarterfinals, 51-33

Got by McLeansboro in semifinals, 39-34

Lost to Lawrenceville in title game, 44-39

1982-83 Flanagan boys' basketball--2nd in Class A

Courtesy of Brian Gundy

Front row: Jim Mallory, Tim Tuftie, Brad Wiechman, Dan Perry, Brian Gundy, Scott Reese, and Rob Roeschley.

Back row: Scott Gerig, Matt Schwerin, Lee Ringenberg, Bill Braksick, Gary Carstens, Jim Tarmann, and Head Coach Jerry Pohl.

1983-84 Coach Jerry Pohl

1984-85 17- 9 Coach Jerry Pohl

1985-86 14-11 Coach Jerry Pohl

1986-87 13- 9 Coach Jerry Pohl

1987-88 27- 2 Regional Champs Coach Mark Harms

Midstate Champions

1988-89 20- 8 Coach Mark Harms

1989-90 Coach Mark Harms

1990-91 19-10 Regional Champs Coach Mark Harms

1991-92 26- 3 Regional Champs Coach Mark Harms

Midstate Champs

1992-93 15-11 coach unknown

1993-96 coach unknown

1996-97 14-11 coach unknown

1998-99 15-14 coach unknown

1999-00 coach unknown

2000-01 Coach Stote Reeder

2001-02 18-13 Coach Stote Reeder

2002-03 26- 6 Regional Champs Coach Stote Reeder

2003-04 20-10 Coach Stote Reeder

2004-05 Coach Stote Reeder

2005-06 Coach John Hughs

2006-07 12-15 Last season as Flanagan Coach John Hughs

Three-time All-Conference picks

Jerry Bertsche---1957-58, 1958-59, 1959-60

Jim Braksick---1972-73, 1973-74, 1974-75 (first team all three seasons)

Bill Braksick---1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83 (unanimous first team all three seasons)

John Harrison---1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86

Brian Van Weelden---1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93

BOYS’ TRACK

On the cinder track, the Falcons won five Midstate Conference meets while it was held from 1949-1987, and produced several medal winners on the podium at the state track finals, plus had several athletes win more than three conference championships in the events they participated in.

1919B Individual Medalist

Alvin Park 4th place-220 dash

1949 2nd in Midstate Meet

1950 Mid-State Champs Coach Noble Arnold

Flanagan edged Chenoa for the title, 44-41

1952 2nd in Midstate Meet

1958 2nd in Midstate Meet

1959 2nd in Midstate Meet

1966 Midstate Champs Coach Dean Puyear

1967 2nd in Midstate Meet (lost to El Paso, 71-66)

1968 Midstate Champs Coach Bill Farrell

Flanagan edged Lexington 64-61 in team standings

1969 2nd in Midstate Meet (lost to El Paso, 49.5 to 47.5)

1974 Midstate Champs Coach Roger Zehr

Held off Lexington 53 to 50.5

1975A Midstate Champs Coach Roger Zehr

Tied for 8th in State Class A Meet

Team Standings

1 Maple Park Kaneland 34

8 Stillman Valley 8

Watseka 8

Clifton Central 8

Mt. Sterling Brown Co. 8

Flanagan 8

Individual Medalist

Jim Braksick 120-yard high hurdles---3rd place

High jump---------------------3rd place

330-yard low hurdles-----4th place

1985 2nd in Midstate Meet

1990A Individual Medalist

Scott Lay 300-meter low hurdles---4th place

100-meter low hurdles---8th place

2000A Individual Medalist

Don Winterrowd High jump-----------------7th place

Three-time Conference champs (or more)

Larry Johnson---440 dash in 1958; 440 dash & pole vault in 1959

Tom Saxton---shotput in 1959 & 1960 as well as discus in 1960

Loren Vissering---part of mile relay in 1960, 1961, & 1962, won 880 in 1961

Rex Petrie---880 & mile run in 1966; repeated in same events in 1967

Bruce Bertsche---100, 220, and part of 880 relay in 1968

Greg Gundy---100 in 1974, 100 & part of 440 relay in 1975

Jim Braksick---high jump in 1973; 440, 120 high hurdles, triple jump, & high jump in 1974; 120 high hurdles, 330 low hurdles, high jump, & long jump in 1975 (9 in all!)

Greg Albertson—part of mile relay in 1974; 440, part of 400 relay & mile relay in 1975; part of mile relay in 1976

Tom Krueger---440 & part of mile relay in 1976; 400 in 1979

Bill Braksick—discus champ in 1981, 1982, & 1983

John Harrison---high jump & pole vault in 1984; pole vault in 1985

Bruce Bertsche---100 & part of 800 relay in 1985; 100, 200, long jump, & part of 400 relay in 1986

NOTE: Jim Braksick went on to win 16 varsity letters at Flanagan, four each in track, baseball, basketball, and football. Following high school, he went onto Illinois Wesleyan University and today is an assistant superintendent of curriculum with the Unit 5 School District in Normal.

BASEBALL

Flanagan participated on the diamonds of Central Illinois, sometimes with Midstate schools only, although were some years when the school didn’t field a team. The Falcons did win a couple of conference titles and won a 1A regional title in its final season when it co-oped with Streator Woodland as WFC. In some cases, names of coaches are unknown, as are complete win-loss records. We invite anyone who may have complete information to contact us to make this listing accurate.

1949-50 No teams

1951 0- 2 (incomplete)

1952 0- 3 (incomplete)

1953 0- 3 (incomplete)

1954 3- 2

1955 1- 4

1956-58 No teams

1959 1- 4 (incomplete)

1960 0- 4 (incomplete)

1961 2- 2 (incomplete)

1962 3- 3

1963 2- 6

1964 8- 8 Coach Don Holler

1965 10- 2 Coach Don Holler

1966 7- 1 Midstate Champions Coach Ron Wimpy

1967 7- 2

1968-77 Records unknown, but participated in conference tournament each year

1978 2- 1 (incomplete)

1979 1- 2 (incomplete)

1980 1- 5

1981 1- 4 (incomplete)

1982 3- 8

1983 0- 3

1984 2- 6

1985 2- 8

1986 6- 5

1987 4- 6

1988 3-11

1989 7- 8

1990 1-13

1991 1-13

1992 0-16

1993 1-13

1994 3-13

1995 10- 6

1996 5-12

1997 18- 6 Midstate Champions Coach Mark Post

1998 15- 4 (good record!)

1999 5-22

2000-2007 records unknown

As Streator Woodland-Flanagan-Cornell (WFC) Co-Op

2008 14-14 1A Regional Champions Coach John Brown

Lost 3-2 to Granville Putnam Co. in 16 innings of the sectional title game at Gardner-South Wilmington

VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Falcons were players in the sport from the time that the conference offered tournament, which also transcended into how competitive the Midstate Conference was about bumping, setting, and spiking the ball over the net. Marilyn Berge was head coach for a number of years at Flanagan as the sport got started, then Kari Harms kept the program going towards the forefront in its latter years. The school won seven regionals, one district, two seciionals, a fourth place finish at the 2006 state finals, and three conference titles between 1975-2006.

1975-76 District Champions Coach Marilyn Berge

2nd in Midstate Tournament

1976-77 2nd in Midstate Tournament Coach Marilyn Berge

1977 Coach Marilyn Berge

1978 3rd in Midstate Tournament Coach Marilyn Berge

1979 2nd in Midstate Tournament Coach Marillyn Berge

1980 9- 8 Coach Marilyn Berge

1981 8- 8 Coach Marilyn Berge

1982 15- 7 Co-Midstate Champs w/Gridley Coach Marilyn Berge

1983 16-11-1 Regional Champions Coach Marilyn Berge

Midstate Champions

1984 20- 4-3 Supersectional Finalists Coach Marilyn Berge

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Midstate Champions

1985-88 Coach Marilyn Berge

1989 19- 6 Midstate Champions Coach Marilyn Berge

1990 16-10 coach unknown

1991 15-11 coach unknown

1992-93 coach unknown

1994 18-16 Midstate Tourney Champs coach unknown

1995-99 Coach Kari Harms

2000 21-12 Coach Kari Harms

2001 20- 9 Coach Kari Harms

2002 28- 3 Regional Champions Coach Kari Harms

2003 Regional Champions Coach Kari Harms

2004 32- 3 Regional Champions Coach Kari Harms

2005 34- 3 Regional Champions Coach Kari Harms

2006 33- 9 4th in State Class A Finals Coach Kari Harms

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Supersectional Winners

Beat Sciota West Prairie 25-23, 25-20 in quarterfinals

Lost to Breese Central in semifinals, 25-10, 25-17

Defeated by Harvard for third place, 25-11, 25-21

The Falcon Gymnasium

Home to some great basketball and volleyball

2007-08 Class 1A State Champions

Courtesy of Brian Gundy

Front row: Emily Gundy, Anna Delheimer, Addie Girard, Lanie Viti, Courtney Starkey, and Katie Spaniol.

Back row: Assistant Coach Kelli Stanley, Anna Jones, Renee Schneider, Taylor Wheat, Jamie Russow, Caitlyn Jones, and Head Coach Ron Spencer.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

The Lady Falcons showed Central Illinois that they could play some hoops during the winter months around Central Illinois. They had co-op agreements with Gridley from 1994 until 2003 and with Streator Woodland during the final year of the high school’s existence as Flanagan, winning the 2007-08 1A State title (as evidenced by the photo above), led by the Jones twins, Anna and Caitlyn. Here's a look at the better seasons compiled:

1979-80 First year in conference coach unknown

1980-81 13- 4 coach unknown

1982-83 15- 3 coach unknown

1990-91 16- 6 coach unknown

1991-92 14- 8 coach unknown

As Flanagan-Gridley Co-Op

1994-95 13-10 coach unknown

2000-01 15- 9 Coach Jeff Sprouse

2002-03 19- 9 Regional Champions Coach Jeff Sprouse

As Flanagan

2003-04 18- 7 Coach Jeff Sprouse

2004-05 20- 7 Coach Jeff Sprouse

2005-06 29- 5 4th in Class A Coach Jeff Sprouse

Stanford Olympia Regional Champions

Bloomington Central Catholic Sectional Champions

Beat St. Joseph-Ogden in Bloomington Supersectional. 48-42

Defeated Spring Valley Hall in quarterfinals, 75-62

Lost to Okawville in semifinals, 45-43

Downed by Carthage in third place game, 73-57

2006-07 26 - 5 Regional Champions Coach Brad Harmon

As Flanagan-Streator Woodland-Cornell (FWC) Co-Op

2007-08 28- 9 1A STATE CHAMPS!!! Coach Ron Spencer

Heart of Illinois Conference Champs

Flanagan Regional Champions

Gilman Iroquois West Sectional Champions

Decatur Supersectional Winners over Tuscola, 53-32

Held off Jacksonville Routt in semifinals, 45-42

Edged Newark 62-60 in title game in overtime

NOTES: Anna Jones was named an All-Stater and received USA Today's National Player of the Week honors for her efforts in the state finals, scoring 57 points in the two games (36 in the title game). Anna wound up as the school's career scoring leader, and was one of four players in school history to score at least 1,000 points or more in a Lady Falcon uniform. The other three were Brittany Leonard, Megan Laughlin, and Caitlyn Jones.

SOFTBALL

Flanagan joined the ranks of schools offering softball in the spring of 1984, and competed with the rest of the Midstate schools. In its final season, the school joined forces with Streator Woodland to co-op. The best of Flanagan's win-loss records is listed below. Names of coaches are needed.

1984 First year

1991 9- 5 Second in Midstate Conference

1993 6- 6

1994 11- 7

As Streator Woodland-Flanagan Co-op

2008 Coach Jim Jobst

GIRLS' TRACK

In the first year that the sport was held, Flanagan's girls won the conference meet and competed for it until it was ended in 1897. Several girls also were fortunate enough to win at three titles for the Orange & Black at the Midstate meet. Here's a look at some of their top team finishes.

1975 Midstate Conference Champions Coach Marilyn Berge

**880 Relay Team Placed 4TH at IHSA State Meet

Linda Stalter, Ruth Eisenbraun, Becky Stalter, Amy Zehr

1976 Third in Midstate Meet

1977 Fourth in Midstate Meet

1979 Fourth in Midstate Meet

1984 Fourth in Midstate Meet

2005 Medalists at IHSA Class 'A' State Meet

4 X 800 Meter Relay 4TH Place

Megan Laughlin Triple Jump 5TH Place

2006 Medalist at IHSA Class 'A' State Meet

Megan Laughlin Triple Jump 3RD Place

Three-time all-conference champions

Linda Stalter---220, long jump, and part of 880 relay in 1975

Rosie Stalter--200 low hurdles in 1982 & 1983; 100 high hurdles in 1983

Debbie Sims--Discus in 1984, 1985, 1986; shotput in 1985

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Flanagan had its share of activities for students who had other talents tro share, such as student council, scholastic bowl, band, and chorus. Over a ten-year period from 1952-61, the school won the state district Class D music sweepstakes titles six times. Band director Richard Schultz and vocal director Oscar Roth help guide the music department to titles in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1961.

TRYING TO FILL IN THE GAPS...

As you can tell, we do have a sizable body of information about the history of Flanagan High School, but we could use more information to complete our listing. Items such as complete win-loss records in certain seasons that are shown as incomplete, information about boys' sports prior to 1949, and words to the school song would be helpful to us. Please contact us at dr.veeman@gmail.com or send it thru the mail to the following address:

Illinois High School Glory Days

6439 North Neva

Chicago, IL 60631

Flanagan softball diamond

Flanagan baseball diamond