April 19, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Former rivals give back with youth girls’ basketball program

Growing up, Andrea Flenniken was a Spartan.


Flenniken graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 1996 and played girls’ basketball for the Spartans.


“I grew up loving basketball,” Flenniken said.


Now Flenniken, who currently lives in Pesotum, is helping young girls learn to cherish the sport she holds with great affection.


How? By starting a travel basketball team for area girls.


Three years ago she formed Team Torment. At the time the team was for fifth graders. Now there are teams for girls in grades four through seventh.


“At least a couple times a week we are getting inquiries regarding when the next set of tryouts will be,” Flenniken said. “We are anticipating being bigger next year.”


Flenniken was comfortable doing work behind the scenes, but she wanted to find the best coach possible.


She found her in Heather Craven, who graduated from Unity in 1996.
Craven, from Tolono, has coached girls basketball for years.

Despite being rivals in high school, Flenniken knew she was the right woman for the job.


“There weren’t any teams around here for young adults, especially females,” Craven said. “I didn’t have this opportunity growing up.”


When Flenniken approached her, Craven was originally hesitant but was eventually won over when Flenniken promised Craven could focus her attention on the coaching aspect.


And she has.


Craven, who played basketball at Danville Area Community College, is working on building the girls’ understanding of basketball fundamentals in a safe and disciplined environment.


“I love seeing kids do something they couldn’t do before,” she said. “Sometimes it takes a month or six months, but then you see a lightbulb go off in their head.”


Sixth-grader Katelyn Gorrell said joining the team has improved her basketball skills, something she credits Craven for.


“She pushes us hard,” she said. “But if they go easy on you, you aren’t going to learn anything.”


Gorrell’s mom, Cheri, said that Katelyn’s skills have improved, as has her sportsmanship.


Cheri said the team has taught her daughter that everyone on a team matters and every one counts.


“You need to build on that to improve on the team as well,” she said.


The team is another full-time job for Flenniken and Craven.

Flenniken said she often puts in 30 to 40 hours a week of work on the team and Craven is at practice multiple nights each week with all the teams.


But they both feel the hard work is worth it because they know how important the team is to the girls and their futures.


Flenniken said there is research that says girls that participate in multiple sports at a young age have better careers and go further in life. Plus, the team offers the girls friendships they may not otherwise form.


Craven said watching girls from different schools come together and form friendships is one of the best parts of the team.


The team includes girls from schools in St. Joseph, Champaign, Rossville, Monticello, Georgetown, Shiloh, Tuscola, Tolono, Mahomet and Catlin.


Flenniken said the team also helps the girls learn how to win as well as teaching them about work ethic and drive.


“The ability to never give up is something I have taken with me even in my nursing career,” Flenniken said. ‘There is no laziness. You just do and never give up.”


Flenniken’s daughter, Raegen Stringer, competes on the seventh-grade team.


Stringer said that the team has instilled a strong work ethic in her.


“If you work hard it will pay off,” Stringer said.


That hard work has been on display as the girls have competed in numerous tournaments over the years.


Originally, they played in semi-local tournaments. Now, they have branched out to tournaments in Chicago and Indianapolis—trips the girls have enjoyed.


Addison Ray, who is on the seventh-grade team, said the trips to Chicago have been rewarding.


“They are tall, tall,” she said. “I like to have challenging moments in sports.”


Andrew Moore, whose daughter Katey Moore is on the seventh-grade team, agreed that the tournaments are enjoyable.


Moore said it allows him to spend quality time with his daughter.


“It is great,” he said. “We have fun and these days kids are busy. They want their gadgets and stuff, but this is time we have her all to ourselves.”


Flenniken said hearing the girls say they are having fun and enjoying being on the team brings her happiness because the entire purpose of the team was to allow the athletes to have fun and enjoy the game.


“It’s about them,” she said.

Just the facts:
Raegen Stringer, Addison Ray, Katey Moore, Tayten Hunter, Addison Frick and Halle Brazelton were on the team during its first year and currently compete on the seventh grade team.

For more information visit http://teamtorment.com.

The team can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/teamtorment

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Ceremony to honor Edwards scheduled for Thursday

December 9, 2020

December 9, 2020

A Gift of Hope Flag raising ceremony will be held on Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. at the St, Joseph-Ogden...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jim Wagner

June 13, 2019

June 13, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 things we don’t know about them—this week is St. Joseph...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jennifer Wayland

April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

Jennifer Wayland is the owner of the Island Travel Group. She is also co-chairing the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce...

Senior spotlight: Chloe Duckett

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. Next up is Chloe Duckett! What will you be doing...

Duitsman Loschen excited to return to SJO

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

Kelly Duitsman Loschen is returning to St. Joseph-Ogden High School today. Loschen will be the guest speaker at the Academic...

Wagle reaches out of her comfort zone

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Alayna Wagle loves Halloween. So the Addams Family spooky motif is right up her alley. “I was pretty familiar with...

Van Buskirk reflects on successful expo

May 1, 2019

May 1, 2019

Dawn Van Buskirk loves the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon. Van Buskirk has been involved with the marathon since it started...

For Schmidt, hard work pays off

July 12, 2019

July 12, 2019

Sammi Schmidt isn’t afraid of hard work. The future Illinois State Redbird was awarded the Gary Butler award at St....

Treatment for the common cold

December 23, 2021

December 23, 2021

By Jeanelle Murphy, DO The common cold is caused by a virus. There are over 200 common cold viruses but...

Senior spotlight Eric Poe

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Eric Poe. Thank you to...

Kids say…

August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019

Every week we ask students at local schools three questions related to farming. This week we spoke to students at...

‘Scouting has been such a wonderful experience for me’

January 19, 2023

January 19, 2023

Sara Steffens’ Gold Award project is personal. The Ogden Girl Scout was inspired by her sister. “I learned that the...

Senior Spotlight…. Brayden Grimsey

September 5, 2019

September 5, 2019

Every week we ask an SJO senior five questions. This week we spoke to Brayden Grimsey. This post is sponsored...

U of I names December 2020 graduates

May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021

The University of Illinois has released their list of 2020 December graduates.These area students graduated in December. ST. JOSEPHLauren GhernaKohlten...

Kids Say…. What do you think a farmer does?

December 23, 2019

December 23, 2019

We ask students to tell us what they think a farmer does each day. Here are their answers. What do...

Comments
Leave a Reply