To succeed in wrestling, one must be passionate and motivated. With an intense amount of dedication, consistent work ethic and an enormous competitive drive, it makes sense that former wrestlers have the potential to become successful leaders. This year's Illinois Chapter's Outstanding American Award goes to a lifetime educator. Dr. Prentiss Lea is in his 11th year as Superintendent of Community High School District 128 (Libertyville and Vernon Hills High Schools). Prior to joining District 128 in 2005 as Associate Superintendent, he served as a principal for 12 years at Glenbard North, Rich East and Crete-Monee high schools. In addition, Prentiss served as an assistant principal, dean, director of student activities, department chair, business education teacher, head wrestling and varsity assistant football coach and student council advisor. Libertyville and Vernon Hills High Schools have produced dramatic increases in student achievement over the past decade and are consistently ranked in the Top two percent of all U.S. high schools by U.S. News and World Report. Both schools have earned United States Department of Education (USDOE) Blue Ribbon School of Excellence distinction during his tenure as superintendent. In 2018 and 2016, District 128 was named the No.1 Overall School District in Illinois by Niche, a nationally recognized school ranking and review organization. In addition, in 2016, District 128 was also ranked the second Overall School District in the United States by Niche. Prentiss has been a tireless advocate and voice for public education at the federal and state levels, serving on Education Advisory Boards for former U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, former U.S. Congressman Robert Dold and Illinois State Representative Carol Sente, and working and testifying on education legislation at the Illinois State Capitol. He has also served as the President of the Mid-America Association of School Superintendents and of the Illinois Association of School Administrators and Lake County Superintendents Association Legislation Committees, and he has been selected as Lake County Superintendent of the Year. Before the beginning of his educational administrative career, Prentiss had a long career in wrestling, football and coaching. A 1975 graduate of Mishawaka High School (IN), he wrestled varsity his junior and senior seasons at 138 pounds for legendary Indiana wrestling coach and Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame member Al Smith, winning IHSAA individual sectional and conference championships as a senior. He also played football at Mishawaka. Prentiss attended Manchester University in Indiana, where he wrestled for four years at 142 pounds and was a four-year starting defensive back in football. Upon graduation, he began his teaching and coaching career at St. Francis DeSales High School in Chicago, where he served as head wrestling coach and varsity assistant football coach. In wrestling, he worked with Assistant Coach Andrew Sobucki to build a program and produce the school's first IHSA state qualifier, Roberto (Bob) Garay. Prentiss then served as head wrestling coach and varsity assistant football coach at Thornton Township High School. In wrestling, he worked with Assistant Coach and former head coach Ed Boghosian to build a state-level dual meet and tournament program that produced two IHSA individual state champions, Larry Love and Lavoris (Terrell) Sandifer, several state place-finishers and qualifiers and several SICA East conference team championships. Prentiss credits his late mother Christine; his older brother Brent, an Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame member; high school coach Al Smith; college coach James Gratz; and long-time Thornton head and assistant coach Ed Boghosian as significant early influences in his life and work with student-athletes. Prentiss has been blessed by the support of his wife, Phyllis, and his daughters, Soo-Jin and Chae-Rin.