By RICHIE HALL
There was a potential dilemma for the Flannagan family during the last weekend of October.
Ava Flannagan is a senior soccer player at Guerin Catholic, while her younger sister Claire Flannagan is a freshman Golden Eagles cross country runner. Both teams qualified for the state finals, which was a great and historic achievement for the school.
The only issue? There was the possibility of both teams playing on the same day, several miles apart. The state soccer games took place at IUPUI, the cross country at Terre Haute. Fortunately, Guerin Catholic’s state soccer game was played on Friday, Oct. 27, so the family got to see Ava join her teammates in winning the Class 2A state championship.
“As our team’s motto is ‘Win as One’ it has truly shown that we not only play for ourselves but our team as a whole,” said Ava. “It has been a privilege and an honor to play for GC the last four years and be a part of this state bound experience.”
“It was fun to see my sister accomplish her goals and finish her soccer career on the highest high possible,” said Claire. “It doesn’t get any better than winning a state championship especially your senior year and I am just so proud of her!”
The next morning, the Flannagans were at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course to see Claire and the GC cross country team compete at state. The Golden Eagles finished 21st in the state, while Claire placed 119th out of 249 runners, running the 5,000-meter course in 19 minutes, 30.8 seconds.
“I really cannot ask for a better freshman year,” said Claire. “It has been the best experience seeing myself and my teammates accomplish our goals together this season. When we set our goal at the beginning of the season to make it back to the state meet we knew we could get there with hard work, grit and determination. It has been an honor to run for Guerin Catholic and represent our school.”
“I’ve always admired my sister’s drive especially as it relates to running but most of all I am still in awe of why people run for fun,” said Ava. “Just being a spectator is a full on workout. In all seriousness it was really cool to watch her run at state and close out a solid first high school season.”
Ava began playing soccer when she was 5 years old and was a member of the Golden Eagles team for all for years of high school. She played three years on junior varsity before moving to varsity her senior year.
Guerin Catholic played one of the toughest schedules in Class 2A, and had to get past two highly-ranked teams, Brebeuf Jesuit and Bishop Chatard, just to win its sectional.
“Having to play some of the toughest competition in the state has definitely given us the confidence to beat anyone else in the state we face,” said Ava. She also noted that it gave the Golden Eagles “great momentum” heading into the state championship game.
Claire is also a longtime athlete in her sport; she started her running career at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the third grade. She also understood what it was like to go through a competitive sectional, as Guerin Catholic had to advance out of the tough Noblesville sectional and Shelbyville regional just to qualify for state.
“It has been great competing against girls that are faster because it has pushed us harder and therefore we have been able to run faster times and reach our goals,” said Claire. “It has been not only challenging but a wonderful learning experience and as a result, we have proven we can compete at a higher level!”
They may be two sisters in different sports, but they now have the common bond of being state qualifiers. And, each other’s biggest fans.
“I don’t quite chase her around the full length of the course like my mom does, but I have seen her run,” said Ava.
Claire said “it’s been a joy watching my sister her whole life but particularly in her senior year play soccer for the last time!”