These Seneca Valley, North Catholic flag football stars will be at the NFL draft for the Steelers’ pick
Two Butler County flag football players will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this week during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Seneca Valley senior quarterback/defensive back Madi Barnyk and North Catholic senior running back/defensive back Simone Sharpless will be on stage when the Pittsburgh Steelers make their first-round pick Thursday night outside Acrisure Stadium.
It’s an opportunity given to several of the Pittsburgh-area’s Jerome Bettis Leadership Award winners from the fall football season and spring flag season, North flag coach Tim Aguglia said. Barnyk and Sharpless earned the award this spring.
“It’s gonna be crazy,” Aguglia said. “I think Simone was in shock. It was like a surreal moment.”
Aguglia knows Barnyk as well and said both are “good kids.” He’s excited for them to get this moment.
“I am beyond excited and still cannot believe it!” Simone, a Steelers fan, said via text Monday. “What an incredible honor to be a part of this historic event. Even though I am going to be a small part of someone else's dream coming true, this feels like a dream for me as well. I am forever grateful!”
“I was honestly not expecting it at all. I was shocked about it, obviously,” Barnyk said. “I've always been a huge football fan.”
Specifically, she’s a Cowboys fan with her mom. Her twin sister and dad are Steelers fans.
“It's a split household,” Barnyk said.
The high school team each Bettis award winner is from also gets a $1,000 donation from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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