Danny Lilya was born with a broken back and is a paraplegic. Confined to a wheel chair his entire life, Lilya has not allowed it to stop him from enjoying sports that he loves and being named the 2017 national winner of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) "Spirit of Sport Award."

The "National High School Spirit of Sport Award" was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.

Lilya was one of eight regional honorees selected.