Super fan: John Kempton
A variety of fans can be seen cheering on the women’s softball team both through their wins and losses. Among all the fans, there is one who is known to be the most loyal. He can be seen at every home game, and even travels with the team to away games.
John Kempton, a retired General Motors employee, started going to the games three years ago. This began when he was offered a part-time position in the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center overseeing attendees. At 65, Kempton was eager to start the job, which gave him something to do. He always had loved sports and softball in particular. Not having any connection with softball for more than 40 years, he decided to go to a game.
“I didn’t know any of the girls at first, but I loved softball and knew the coach well,” Kempton said. “I casually got more and more interested. Now I go to all the games.”
When Kempton says he attends all the games, he means it. He has been to more than 100 of the softball sporting events and travels with the team to the games played elsewhere. This fan takes the team out to dinner twice each season.
“I take the team out once to kick off the season and then again to wrap it up,” he said.
A typical Greyhound softball season comprises roughly 50 games, and Kempton attends them all.
Infielder Krista Bradford said Kempton also made a couple of shirts to support all of the players on the team.
“Some of the shirts have our last names on them and say ‘John’s Girls’ on the front,” Bradford said.
Kempton said the idea to make shirts for himself just came to him. Then he made shirts that can be worn by the players.
Not only does Kempton know all the girls by name, but he also goes over the roster to memorize specific statistics. When he arrives at the games, he is more than excited and can be heard throughout the entire game.
“I am on my feet jumping up and down, the loudest person there,” Kempton said.
Each year the team gets incoming freshmen, but to Kempton the new players mean new faces and names to remember.
The girls are introduced to him and the upper level players tell the new players on the team to get to know him.
Kempton said he hates when the teams loses and admits he got teary-eyed at one game when they lost. Members of the athletic community at UIndy know Kempton and Kempton knows them.
“I will be around for a while, at least until they fire me,” Kempton said.
Sophomore Sara Culler likes to go to many of the games during the season. She believes that Kempton really motivates the team to do their very best.
“I have been to many of the softball games and every time I go, I happen to see John [Kempton] cheering the team on. I think it is great that he always goes to the games,” Culler said.
Kempton described himself as an “avid, avid fan” and admitted that he doesn’t attend other sports’ games as often because his heart is in softball. Kempton can be seen around campus and in the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center. And on softball nights, he can be seen in the stands, cheering on his favorite team.
