Chelan High School Athlete Ryan Rainville’s Life Was Saved By Free Heart Screening

Early Dedication Saved His Life!

August 12, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on August 12, 2026

A simple decision to take part in a free heart screening changed the course of Chelan High School athlete Ryan Rainville’s life.

In 2026, Ryan, a dedicated three-sport athlete with a 3.8 GPA, never imagined he could have a heart condition.

Our Kinda Goats are tough… like football tough. Congrats to the senior GOAT for being the OKG of practice #3 Ryan Rainville.

— Tony Callero Chelan, WA (@TonyCallero)

With both of his parents, Rob and Jenifer Rainville, working as teachers (and Rob also coaching three sports), athletics were a huge part of Ryan’s world.

When a free EKG and heart screening event was announced, Ryan initially shrugged it off, telling his dad,

But Rob encouraged him to go, and that choice may have saved his life.

A Hidden Condition Discovered

During the screening, specialist doctors noticed something unusual on Ryan’s heart monitor.

Instead of the expected up-down-right pattern, they spotted a brief movement to the left.

This was a red flag for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition caused by an extra electrical pathway in the heart, which can trigger episodes of rapid heartbeat.

Had a great Longsnapping Camp yesterday at . Excited to come back to my 2nd Camp on the 29th!

— Ryan Rainville (@RyanRainville5)

This condition is often present from birth, but symptoms don’t always appear until later.

Many people, especially young athletes, may never know they have it unless they undergo a screening.

For Ryan, the discovery came just in time. After further testing, doctors scheduled a surgery, and today he’s doing great.

The Importance Of Early Detection

Ryan’s story is a powerful reminder that even the healthiest, most active young people can have undetected heart conditions.

Events like the one that saved Ryan are organized by the Nick of Time Foundation, a non-profit created in memory of Nick Varrenti, a 16-year-old athlete who died from a condition that could have been detected earlier.

The Foundation’s mission is to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in children and young adults through early detection, education, and intervention.

When you make other players “too small” you might just be an OKG. Well done at practice this morning

— Tony Callero Chelan, WA (@TonyCallero)

SCA is one of the leading causes of death among young athletes, but with proper screenings, it can often be detected and treated before tragedy strikes.

The Nick of Time Foundation will host another free youth heart screening in Chelan on August 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chelan Community Gym, 309 E. Johnson Avenue.

The event is open to all young people ages 12 to 19, regardless of where they attend school.

The screening includes an EKG and review by specialists, giving participants the chance to catch hidden heart conditions early, just like in Ryan’s case.

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