Winning seems to come naturally to Kim Wallner. When she was co-captain of the 1983 Women's Basketball team at North Central College, she led them to a national championship in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Wallner, head girls basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Community High School in West Chicago, was inducted into the North Central College Hall of Fame on January 17 in recognition of that accomplishment.

Wallner is also remembered as North Central's all-time leading scorer with 2,421 points. She still holds the school's career records for assists, steals, field goals made and field goals attempted, as well as single-season records in assists and steals. She played softball as well as basketball at North Central.

Wallner's athletic accomplishments began earlier at Schaumburg High School, where she played softball, basketball and field hockey. She was part of the state field hockey championship team during her sophomore year and was the state's highest scorer with 33 goals.

After college, Wallner fulfilled another dream when she became a teacher and basketball coach. "That's something I always wanted to do," she said. "I want my girls to know what a positive impact participating in sports can have on their lives."

"Coach Wallner is an inspiration to the student athletes at Community High School," said CHS Principal John Highland. "They are being taught and coached by a true champion."