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Buffalo Grove cheer coach receives national spirit award

Buffalo Grove High School's Jeffrey Siegal is the recipient of the National Coach of the Year Award for Spirit.

Siegal is one of 23 high school coaches from across the country who have been selected as 2017 National Coaches of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations' Coaches Association.

Siegal is the most successful coach in IHSA Cheerleading history, having led two programs to eight state championships.

"Jeff is not only being recognized for the accomplishments he has received as a coach, but also for what he has given back to countless student-athletes," said IHSA Assistant Executive Director and Cheerleading administrator Susie Knoblauch, who nominated Siegal for the honor.

"He is committed to keeping a balance between sideline and competitive spirit activities that allow all of his athletes to thrive. We are thrilled to be able to recognize Jeff's continued support of education-based athletics and the IHSA mission."

• Michael McRaith, a 2012 graduate of Buffalo Grove High School, moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in July, 2017, to train to become a professional wrestler, a dream he had since he was a young boy.

He did some research and found that many WWE wrestlers trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, so he signed up, and has enjoyed every minute since.

McRaith, whose inspiration for wrestling came from WWE's Triple H, goes by the name "Flex" in the ring. Someday he hopes to make it to the WWE, but until then he is living his dream. He had his first professional match on Oct. 22, when he wrestled the "Blue Grass Brawler" in the New Talent Showcase held in Louisville.

• Congratulations to Prospect Heights 1st Ward Alderman Lora Messer for breaking the powerlifting Illinois State Squat Record with a 292.1 pound squat, and the Total State Record with 799.2 pounds. She hit nine of nine lifts and placed third overall in the Masters division.

Her record-breaking accomplishments were made even more remarkable by the fact that she was recovering from a bout with the flu.

Messer intends to go on to break the state records (which she now holds) and go over the 800-pound mark in Total State Record lifts in future meets. Good luck to Alderman Messer.

• U.S. Air Force Airman Kenneth Fernandez graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills.

Fernandez, a 2017 Schaumburg High School graduate, is the son of Jorge A. and Maricela Fernandez and brother of Albert Fernandez of Hanover Park.

• Send your 'Neighbor in the News' items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.

Michael McRaith of Buffalo Grove lives his dream in the ring. Courtesy of Tim McRaith
Prospect Heights 1st Ward Alderman Lora Messer powerlifting. Courtesy of city of Prospect Heights
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