Jolene Leseman, born June 20, 1961, is an SHS graduate of the class of 1979. While attending Sterling High School, she participated in basketball, volleyball, and softball. In basketball, Jo set five school records: most offensive rebounds in a single season (103); most recoveries in a single season (188); most career recoveries (389); most assists (201), and most points (total of 1,018). Jo was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a member of the first girls state basketball championship team in 1977. She was also inducted as a member and captain of the third place 1979 girls basketball team. All-Conference her sophomore, junior, and senior year, Jo also obtained the Hustle Award her junior year, and the MVP Award her sophomore and senior year. Jo was named Champaign News Gazette All-State in 1979, First Team AP-UPI All-Tournament team in 1979, Chicago Tribune second All-State Team in 1979, First Team Rockford All-Area in 1997, 1978, and 1979, Converse All-American Team in 1979, First Team Dixon Invitational Tourney in 1977, 1978, and 1979, and was the third leading scorer at the state tournament in 1979. Jo also participated in the AAU Junior Olympic Basketball Team, on which she started in 1978, 1979, and 1980. The team won at the state level all three years and advanced to the National Tournament, where they finished seventh in 1979. Over her varsity basketball career, she had a SHS season record of 71 wins and only two losses. In volleyball, Jo served as captain of the team her senior year and also received the Most Valuable Player Award. An All-Conference Player, she was also named first team for the Dixon Invitational Tournament. She held a high school volleyball record of 31-8. A member of the softball team, Jo was named All-Conference and served as the captain of the team her senior year. She was also a Carnation Prep All-American the same year. Participating in the American Softball Association (ASA), Jo received the "Outstanding Player" Award. A starting player in the 1978 National Softball Tournament in San Antonio, Texas, she was named to the All-Star Team. The team succeeded in obtaining the National Crown. Upon graduation, Jo attended Iowa State University, where she was offered a basketball scholarship. In 1981, she was named to the first team All-Big Eight Conference. By her junior year, Jo was the leading scorer and continued to lead in scoring in 1983. She also was named the Best Offensive and Defensive Player and AIAW Region Six All-Tournament team her junior year. During her senior year, she was Honorable Mention All-Big Eight Conference and received Best Offensive Player Award. Captain of the team, she ended her senior year setting a school record with most points scored by a senior with 387 points. In addition, she captured the Iowa State career record as leading rebounder with 588 rebounds. She was the second leading career scorer (1,201 points), third leading in assists (170), first in steals with (180), second in field goals and free throw shooting with 41% from the field and 65% from the free throw line. Jo scored in double figures 25 times her junior year and 19 times her sophomore year. While attending Iowa, she coached Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) Jr. Olympic girls basketball team in 1981, 1982, and 1983. All three years the team won the state tourney and advanced to the national tourney. After college graduation in 1983, Jo assisted the Iowa State girls basketball team. She then was employed by Sauk Valley Community College as the head volleyball and basketball coach and teacher. In 1992, she was named the Arrowhead Conference Volleyball "Coach of the Year." Jo continues to remain active in athletics and has held numerous volleyball camps for area high school students.