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 PasoCoach 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
Pontiac Super-Sectional
Defeated Hoopeston-East Lynn 87-60
Elite 8
Downed Tiskilwa in quarterfinals, 51-33
Final 4
Got by McLeansboro in semifinals, 39-34
Title Game
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 Elite 8
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:
