George “Chris” Flanagan

April 2, 1910 – March 1, 1989

George “Chris” Flanagan, the coach of many high school wrestling champions, did not have the personal opportunity to participate in wrestling at the high school level, for he attended school in Williamsburg, Iowa, where wrestling was not an extra-curricular activity.

Following high school graduation, Flanagan enrolled at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and began his wrestling career under the tutelage of Coach Dave McCuskey.

Flanagan, at 135 pounds, was Iowa Collegiate Champion in 1933. In the same year he placed second in the Midwest A.A.U., and in 1934 he placed first in the Midwest A.A.U.

In 1934 Flanagan’s coaching career began with one year at Grant Consolidated in Ledyard, Iowa, followed by one year in Burt, Iowa.

He was named wrestling coach at Cresco High School (now Crestwood High School) in 1936. During his career in Cresco, Flanagan coached four State Championship teams, Six runner-up teams, 34 individual State Champions and 10 Northeast Iowa Conference Championship teams. Flanagan’s teams had a dual meet record of 317 wins, 89 losses, and 5 ties, with never a losing season.

He retired from coaching in 1970 and from teaching in 1975.

George “Chris” Flanagan was inducted into the Cresco Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1970.

High School

College

• 1933, Iowa College Champ; Midwest AAU runner-up
• 1934, Midwest AAU Champ
• Coached 4 State Championship teams; 6 Runner-up teams; 34 Individual State Champs; 10 NEIC Championship teams

Coaching

Record317-89-5

32 years