A pair of dominant Teams of Excellence headline the Flandreau Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be inducted on Sunday, July 6 at banquet ceremonies at the Royal River Casino.
Eight inductees in all will enter the local sports hall of fame this summer, including four athletes, two teams of excellence and two coaches.
The 3rd Annual FAHOF Banquet and Induction Ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 6th at the Royal River Casino. Tickets will go on sale to the public in June so watch for an annoucement on that.
FAHOF 4-person Scramble
The FAHOF will host a 4-person scramble at the Rivers Bend Golf Course east of Flandreau on June 21. This is open to anyone to participate. More information can be obtained at the the Rivers Bend Clubhouse by calling 605-997-3031 or email: [email protected] for costs and particulars.
4-person Scramble / Alumni Open
To culminate the golfing experiences for the FAHOF, an Alumni Open will be held on Saturday, July 5. This is open to Flandreau High and Flandreau Indian High School alumni and past and present school staff members.
More information can be obtained at the the Rivers Bend Clubhouse by calling 605-997-3031 or email: [email protected] for costs and particulars.
2025 Inductees:
1963 FIS Boys Cross Country Team
During the 1950s, FIS cross country brought home six state team championships. After a 3-year drought, FIS harriers continued their winning ways in the 1960s. The 1960 squad edged out Milbank 20-23. The 61 team easily outdistanced Rapid City 12-32 and the 62 team bested Rapid City again, 15-26.
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported on the 1963 squad:
The Flandreau High School Indians, perennial South Dakota cross country champions, did it again in 1963. Its getting to be a habit with Coach Andy Zephiers harriers. Competing against the states best on October 18, 1963, at Brookings, the Indians won their 10th state title in the past 13 years. This was the fourth consecutive state championship for the Indian school runners. A field of 97 runners participated in the state meet. Star of the event was Paul Moss of FIS, running the 2.2 miles in 10:52.8, a new record. The Indian team was outstanding in that Keith McKenzie finished second, Dale Moss placed third and Glen Delorme (only surviving member) was 6th, for a team score of 6 points.
1963 was the first time for a two-class system, and in the history of the sport, only one other boys team has posted a perfect score – Crazy Horse did it in 1984.
1996-97 Flier Boys Basketball Team
The Fliers boys basketball program experienced varying degrees of success under the guidance of Coach Rick Weber since he took the reins in 1990. His 1995-96 squad brought home a Class A State Tournament Consolation Championship and with a strong core of seniors returning for the 1996-97 campaign, they put together a dream season – one for the record books.
That team, captained by Mike Smith, Brendan Sheppard and Myles Zephier, ran roughshod over their opponents, capturing the Central Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles on their way to a 25-0 overall record and the schools first and only Class A State Boys Basketball Championship. They say defense wins championships and that was the calling card for this unselfish group, as they held opponents to 46.7ppg while averaging 70.5 themselves.
The post-season accolades poured in: All CVC Sheppard, Smith, Zephier and Honorable Mention Dan Rorvik and Tobin Bakkedahl; Academic All-State: Kyle Porisch, Smith, Sheppard, Zephier; Class A State Tourney Team Bakkedahl, Smith, Sheppard, Zephier; All-State 2nd Team Smith, Sheppard; Mr. Basketball Nominee – Smith; Spirit of Su Award Winner Zephier; Class A Coach of the Year Weber.
Denis & Martin Parsley Wrestling
Brothers, Denis and Martin Parsley, undefeated Class B State Wrestling Champions for Class of 2023 Inductee Jim Tiger Mc Glones Fliers, will join the Class of 2025 in the Athlete category.
Denis was part of the Inaugural FAHOF Class in 2023 as a two-time participant for Gus Barnes State Cross Country runners-up in 1970 and 71. He was also a key piece of the puzzle to Gus first of three State A Track Championships in 1972 as a half-miler.
A three-sport letter-winner for the Fliers, Denis excelled on the mat for Coach McGlones grapplers. As a 98# sophomore, he was the only Flier to qualify for the state meet. He moved up to 112 his junior season and helped the Fliers to its first ever conference title. He won the district 112 title and finished second at the region meet, qualifying for state again where he won his first match but didnt place. Wrestling at 119 lbs. as a senior, his team posted a 12-0 dual record, captured their second Interstate Conference championship, and he posted a 22-0 record on his way to a State B Championship Title.
Marty followed in his big brothers footsteps. He was also a three-sport letter-winner for the purple and gold and would make a name for himself as a key member of Tigers evolving wrestling program. As a 138 lb. sophomore, Marty placed third at the prestigious Rock Rapids Invite, second at the Big 8 Tourney and first at the district and regions meets. He won his first-round match at the State B, but lost in wrestle backs and did not place. As a junior, again at 138 lbs., Marty placed second at the Big 8, first at the district meet and second at regions, where his nemesis from Beresford (Lyle) won by decision. He would go on to beat Brown from Dells for a fifth place finish at the State B. Moving up to the 167 lb. weight class as a senior, Marty pinned Stene of Brandon Valley at the Big 8, decisioned Sorenson of Beresford at districts, and pinned Hult of Centerville for the region title, qualifying for the State B a third time. He would finish his high school wrestling career with an 80-18 overall record and a 30-0 senior season with the 167 lb. State B Title.
Syd Beane Coach
The Flandreau Indian School is also represented by a pair of the most successful coaches in the schools history.
Sydney Elmer Beane (deceased) was a star athlete for the Indians from 1928-1931, excelling in football, basketball and track. As team captain, Syd guided the 1929-30 FIS boys basketball squad to a 13-1 record, winning the State Indian School Championship for the second time in the last three years. They also played SD State Champ Huron in a post-season 1-point loss.
The 1931 Bow & Arrow (FIS Yearbook) reported on the 1930-31 basketball squad This seasons record is without a question among the best in the state. The team was rated as one of the cleverest in high school circles and was the talk of fans in eastern SD. One of the teams chief accomplishments was the defeating of the SD State Independent Champions by the score of 36-19, in a charity game.
That team outscored opponents 529-227, posting an 11-1 record. Syd returned to his alma mater as a coach and guided the Indians to its first and only State Basketball Championship in 1939. That squad posted a 10-5 regular season record and would go on to defeat Lead 27-25, then Rapid City 32-30 for the State A title. Coach Beane also guided the FIS cross country team to 3 straight state championships in 1950, 51 and 52.
DuWayne Groos FIS Coach
DuWayne Groos came to the Flandreau Indian School in 1974 and coached multiple sports at various levels until 2002. A decorated athlete at Sisseton High School and Northern State University, big Du saw considerable success with his student athletes at FIS in cross country, basketball and track.
DuWayne had record setting careers on the court for his alma mater, the Sisseton Redmen and the Northern State Wolves. He was All-SDIC for four years and made the District 12 NAIA Team. He is a member of the SD Amateur Basketball Hall of Fame, NSU Hall of Fame, SDIC Hall of Fame, and the SD High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He received the Lakota Nation Distinguished Service Award in 1995. He, along with Gerald Schuchard, returned the FIS cross country program to its glory days with back-to-back State A titles in 1987 and 1988.
Logan Olson Rodeo
Logan Olson, FHS 1998, started out on the local rodeo scene as a youngster and went on to become the most successful cowboy ever to come out of FHS. As a Team Roping Header, he was a four-time state high school rodeo qualifier. He attended Colby Community College and then Oklahoma Panhandle State University from 1998-2001 and would cap off his college career with the 2001 College National Finals Rodeo as the Team Roping Champion. He turned pro and was the 1999 Badland Circuit Champion, the 2005 Wrangler National Finals Qualifier, the 2008 Frontier Days Champ, the 2015, 2016, 2017 Badland Circuit Finals and year-end Champ, and the 2018 Ram National Circuit Finals Champ. He has PRCA career earnings of nearly $500,000 and was the Reserve Champion at the Bob Fiest Invitational.
Ramona Zephier Track and Field
2001 FHS graduate, Ramona Zephier to the Class of 2025. Mona was a 16-time letter-winner for the Fliers in four sports from 1995-2001. She set school records for digs and sets in volleyball and doubled up in the fall of 2000 in basketball and cross country, qualifying for the State A cross country meet her senior year. She set school records for assists and steals on the hardcourt for the purple and gold and as a defensive specialist, had a hand in the Lady Fliers sixth place finish at the State As in 1997.
However, it was on the track and in the pits where Ramona dominated locally and was the most consistent performer Flandreau Fliers Track and Field has ever seen at the state level. She was undefeated in the long jump and triple jump at regular season track meets for six seasons (excluding Howard Wood), including the CVC meet where she stood atop the podium five times in the triple jump (knee injury 1999) and six times in the long jump.
Mona won 21 medals at the State A Track Meets from 1996-2001. Individually, she medaled six times in the LJ, finishing second in both 1996 and 2000. She medaled five times in the TJ, finishing in third place four times, and winning the state championship in 2000.
She placed third in the open 400 as seventh grader. She ran on 4×200, 4×400 and Sprint Medley Relay teams that set school records, bringing home nine state meet medals. She scored 117 points for the Lady Fliers Track and Field program at state events.
The Flandreau Athletic Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit LLC whose objective is to recognize the athletic achievements of alumni of the Flandreau Public High School, the Flandreau Indian School, coaches, administrators, and contributing community members, who have demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership and community involvement in sports and organized recreational programs and activities, including post high school amateur and professional athletes, coaches and contributors.
They exist due to the generosity of local businesses and individuals and are sponsoring the golf tournaments and street dance as fund-raisers. Donations are accepted no matter how small, and would accept items for the silent auction held at the banquet and items for pin prizes.
Use VENMO, username = @FAHOF2023. Like them on Face Book and look for more information prior to this years banquet.
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