Beach receives Call To Courage Award

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 April 2016 at 12:00 am

Contributed Photos – Medina High senior Charles Beach, right, and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams received the Call To Courage Award Saturday which was created by former Bills quarterback Frank Reich.

Strong on the athletic fields and in the classroom and also in his ability to cope and deal with a number of major challenges in his home life over the years is a combination which has earned Medina High senior Charles Beach the High School Call To Courage Award which was created by former Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich.

Beach and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams received the Call To Courage Award in ceremonies held Saturday in Buffalo. The award honors the recipients exemplary character, service to the community and commitment to one’s faith.

Athletically, Beach has demonstrated plenty of talent both on the gridiron and the wrestling mat. A four year varsity starter, he earned first team B East Division and Honorable Mention all Western New York honors in football last fall. Over the winter season he captured a Section VI title and went on to earn third place honors at the state wrestling championships. This spring he is a member of the Mustangs tennis team.

He has also shown plenty of courage and fortitude in dealing with a series of challenges in his home life. Growing up without a father, his mother passed away when he was in eighth grade and two years later his grandmother, who was caring for him, passed away leaving him in the care of an aunt.

His aunt applied for and was accepted into the Habitat For Humanity program which requires applicants to contribute some of their own time and labor to transform an old house into a home. It was an endeavor into which Charles poured plenty of work and pride into in order to, as Medina High Athletic Director Eric Valley notes, “ensure that he and his great aunt would finally have a nice place to live and call their own.”

Beach here signs autographs for young fans at the awards ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency in Buffalo.

Valley added that Charles has also been very active in volunteering his time to work with the youth football and wrestling programs and also spends time volunteering for “Camp Smile” which is an organization that organizes Olympic style games for physically challenged kids.

“Charles does all this with a big smile on his face and an even bigger heart,” said Valley. “He genuinely enjoys helping and working with the younger student athletes and has a great rapport with them.”

Having taken his SATs, Charles is now looking toward continuing his athletic career in college, possibly to wrestle at SUNY Brockport.

Valley notes that Charles has been involved in SUNY Brockport’s Upward Bound Program which, he adds, ” is for kids that otherwise might not have the support or opportunities to continue into higher education.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Valley, who nominated Charles for the award. “With all the adversity he’s gone through. He has had to endure more than his fair share of heartache in his 18 years, yet it has never slowed him down. Charles embodies the ideals that the Call To Courage Award represents. He is an amazing young man who has probably taught me more than I could ever teach him, and for that I am truly blessed.”