Bethel Park senior Charlie Simmons joined 10 other area football players as a Jerome Bettis Leadership Award recipient.
Designated for athletes “who go above and beyond to provide mentor-like support for their teammates,” this year’s award winners are Simmons, South Fayette’s Connor Hiser, Greensburg Salem’s Max Topper, Aliquippa’s Marques Council Jr., West Greene’s Colin Whyte, Seneca Valley’s Tommy Wuycheck, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Kassius Gildon, Central Valley’s Adam Shroads, Mars’ Jonnie Maestra, Beaver Falls’ Christian Dawkins and Allderdice’s Lukas Stead.
Simmons, 18, was notified of his selection in early September during the week of the Armstrong game for Bethel Park.
“I am very honored to be selected for the award. When I was first chosen, I was happy and thought it was awesome,” said Simmons, a four-year competitor and two-year starter for the Black Hawks. “I’m just grateful to play under coach (Phil) Peckich the past couple years and just to play for Bethel Park.”
Simmons was a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior fullback/linebacker on the 2025 Bethel Park football team, which finished 7-5 and was a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinalist.
He has added 10 pounds to his already solid frame and plans to continue his football career at Grove City, where he will study in exercise science field.
One of Simmons’ roles for the Black Hawks during the 2025 season was serving as a team captain along with seniors David Dennison (RB/LB), Santino LaMolinare (OL/DL) and Evan Devine (QB).
“My on-the-field duties included keeping everyone motivated and the morale high during times when people didn’t want to be there,” Simmons said. “Off the field, I had to teach the younger guys the playbook and take them under my wing to help them understand what playing for Bethel Park is like.”
On offense, Simmons had seven receptions for 97 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 13.8 yards per catch with a season-long reception of 23 yards.
Simmons finished fifth in scoring for the Black Hawks behind Dennison (25 TDs), senior kicking specialist Xavier Jackson (4 FGs, 45 PATs), junior WR/DB Santino Nowozeniuk (7 TDs) and junior RB/DB Will Sabatos (6 TDs).
Senior WR/DB Kahanuola Kuewa (59), junior FB/LB Jack Johnson (58), Simmons (52) and senior TE/DE Jovian Smith (50) sparked the Black Hawks’ defense with 50 or more tackles.
Simmons was one of 17 seniors on the 2025 squad at Bethel Park. Here is his bio on the Jerome Bettis Leadership Award website:
“Charles is an exemplary leader in his community and on his football team. He prides himself on integrity, inclusivity and giving back to others by showing younger players the ropes and leading by example both on and off the field.
“Charles is active in his community, extending his influence off the field as a member of the Best Buddies club where he works with and develops connections with students who have special needs and disabilities. He is also heavily involved as a volunteer within his church.”
Bethel Park’s starting linebacking corps, consisting of Simmons, Johnson and senior Tim Ondo, also was an active group. Simmons was the third-leading tackler on the team with 41 solo stops and 11 assists, including 5.5 tackles for loss for 45 yards and one sack. He recovered two fumbles.
Simmons talked about a few of his favorite memories from playing football for the Black Hawks.
“My top three,” he said, “are, for sure, scoring on senior night against Seneca Valley, my interception against Latrobe last year in the first round of the playoffs, and my by far favorite one was walking into the Wolvarena last year and beating Woodland Hills. That was an awesome experience.”
The Leadership Award winners received a $1,000 donation to their school’s football program and were recognized Jan. 2 at an event hosted by the Best of the Batch Foundation, founded by former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch.
The players, chosen throughout the high school football season, also were honored at Steelers home games this fall. Simmons attended the Steelers-Ravens game when they played for the division title.
The award is named for former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, a 2015 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.