Sally (Toma) Kempton
Volleyball/Softball/Coach (1984-1986 / 1993-1996)
Waubonsee’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1985-1986
All-Region as a sophomore and Waubonsee team MVP
Waubonsee career record for spikes with 465
Two-time All-Skyway selection in volleyball
Trying to contain Sally (Toma) Kempton on a volleyball court was always a “tall” order. Simply stated, most teams were unsuccessful in keeping the 6-foot hitter in check. Kempton was an offensive power for the Lady Chiefs and enjoyed a record-setting career at Waubonsee. She has since gone on to coach successful teams at the prep and club volleyball level for the last two decades.
Kempton graduated from Oswego High School in 1984, where she was twice selected All-Conference, named to the Beacon-News All-Area team and tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year. She continued to excel at Waubonsee, earning All-Skyway honors both years and All-Region IV status as a sophomore. Kempton was the Lady Chiefs’ MVP in 1985, achieving a 95 percent serving efficiency and establishing a Waubonsee career record 465 spikes. In the spring she even helped out the softball team playing first base. Kempton was subsequently named Waubonsee’s Female Athlete of the Year for 1985-1986.
Kempton transferred to William Woods College in Fulton, Mo., and played volleyball for a season, setting the Owls’ record for hitting. She began coaching volleyball shortly thereafter with stints at Dumer Junior High School in Sandwich, Geneva High School, Aurora Central Catholic High School and Yorkville High School. In between, Kempton returned to Waubonsee in the mid-1990s to be the Lady Chiefs’ head coach for four seasons. At the same time, she also helped run the highly successful Pazazz Volleyball Club in Elburn for nearly 20 years. Three years ago Kempton began directing the Rally Volleyball Club in North Aurora.
Kempton currently works as a freelance photographer and make-up artist for magazine publications, traveling extensively around the United States. She lives in Montgomery with her husband, Steve, and finds herself rooting these days for her alma mater’s rival, Oswego East High School, where her daughter, Kelsey, is a senior and her son, Trevor, is a sophomore.