WHEELING — The window for athletic greatness can close very quickly. Being a superstar in the game of life has a much longer shelf-life.

Ryan Reinbeau is a 20-year-old West Virginia University medical student. He is also a former Wheeling Park High School basketball star who experienced the highs and lows that come with athletics.

The 6-4 forward enjoyed a superb junior season for Coach Michael Jebbia’s Patriots. He averaged some 20 points a game in garnering second-team all-state honors. He was the target of college recruiters.

As fate would have it, Reinbeau was dealt a cruel blow. He incurred a serious knee injury the following season, train-wrecking his senior campaign as well as collegiate hoop plans.

But the soft-spoken standout did not wallow in self-pity. While his basketball skills were exceptional, his classroom talent was equally if not more impressive.

Reinbeau was an honors grad from Wheeling Park on the strength of his 4.4 GPA. With his collegiate basketball career shelved due to injury, he quickly channeled his abilities to pursuing a medical career and helping those who couldn’t help themselves.

While thousands and thousands of college students head to Florida or beaches for spring break, Reinbeau also makes a junket during that break from classes.

His, however, is markedly different, and much more rewarding.

Reinbeau is a member of the Global Medical and Dental Brigades. He was part of the WVU student organization that traveled to rural Nicaragua the past two spring breaks, performing medical, dental and public health tasks over a 10-day period.

Reinbeau and his fellow WVU students worked with doctors and dentists from around the U.S. providing medical care to 2,257 patients, who otherwise could not afford such care.

Moreover, the student delegation was also charged with public health tasks, assisting with the construction of septic tanks and washing stations while also mixing and laying concrete flooring.

“The typical day started at the clinic at 8:30 a.m. We worked there till 3 p.m. We treated 300-400 patients each day,” Reinbeau said. “We would then eat and go back and have group reflections. We had the same meal every day — beans and rice. I did lose weight during that trip. We had 13 of us living in one room.

“The people we treated would wait two hours in line just to get Ibuprofen. We would take their vital signs before they saw the doctors. They were so appreciative even when they just got multi-vitamins,” he added. “We also built showers and bathrooms for them. Many lived in two-room stick and mud houses. They were so welcoming for the work we did. The kids really loved us. They clinged to us on the last day.”

Reinbeau was totally immersed with the task at hand. So much so, he didn’t even bring his cell phone along.

“It is an eye-opening experience. Back home, people get annoyed when they have to wait to see a doctor or pick up their prescriptions. In Nicaragua, these people would wait for hours in 90-95 heat and never complain. They walk away happy with just some multi-vitamins,” Reinbeau offered. “We also put on hygiene clinics for them. What is sad is when we left they would not get care like that for another half year.

“It gives you a great feeling of satisfaction knowing that we made a difference for more than 2,000 people who desperately needed it. That was never done before,” he continued. “It is a very humbling experience and makes you appreciate what you have. It is definitely life-changing and puts a lot of things in perspective.”

The humanitarian trip does not come without a price. Reinbeau was responsible for raising $2,600 to help defray the $110,000 worth of medical care delivered on the mission. Each participant carries a 50-pound box of medical supplies onto the plane.

Reinbeau plans to go back again next year. He will serve as chief medical officer.

Anyone wishing to help his cause monetarily can do so by making a donation at any WesBanco office under the Ryan Reinbeau for Medical Brigade expenses account.

Reinbeau is on target to graduate in May of 2019 with hopes of starting medical school at WVU three months later, focusing on either orthopedic or trauma work. This summer he is working at WVU with orthopedic surgeons studying bone cancer and amino therapy.

“I would rather spend my spring break helping people in desperate need of medical attention than partying like other people,” Reinbeau. “This mission exposes me to what I want to be doing with my career.”

DELANDE EXCELS

CHASE DELANDE enjoyed a superb wrestling season at Edinboro University this year. The talented 157-pound senior qualified for the NCAA national championships, finishing with a 23-18 record. He completed his career with a 61-37 mark. His sophomore and junior years were curtailed by shoulder surgeries.

Delande was a four-time state mat qualifier two-time Division I state-placer at Hilliard Davidson High. He captured the state title as a junior at 145 pounds while placing fourth at 152 as a senior. He was 79-5 his final two years.

Delande was a three-year starter in football at Davidson. He was a member of Davidson’s 2009 state championship team.

Delande is the son of Dave and Stephanie (Miller) Delande. Dave was a three-time OVAC wrestling champion for St. Clairsville and a state runnerup. He went onto an All-American mat career a West Liberty en route to being enshrined into the OVAC Hall of Fame.

OHIO STATE BANQUET

THE OHIO State Alumni Club of Belmont County is holding its annual banquet on Friday, June 9 at Belmont Hills Country Club. St. Clairsville High graduate Dr. Adam Stewart is the guest speaker.

Stewart attended Ohio State University, majoring in athletic training. He worked with the Buckeyes’ football team, men’s basketball team and women’s field hockey squad. He also spent time with the Buffalo Bills.

After graduation, Stewart worked for the New England Patriots as an assistant with the team’s training staff. He left the Pats to return to school to earn his doctorate in physical therapy.

After gaining his doctorate, Stewart accepted the position of head physical therapist and assistant athletic trainer for the Ohio State football team.

Now in his third year in that role, Stewart is also a professor in the OSU athletic training program, teaching a course in therapeutic exercise.

Tickets for the banquet are $40. More information may be obtained by calling Susan Tolbert at 740-633-9594 or emailing to satolbert337@gmail.com

BUBBA’S BITS

CONGRATULATIONS to the Wheeling Central girls’ track team for a job well done in capturing the Class A state crown. The Maroon Knights have the youth and talent to be the favorites to win it all again next season. Kudos also go out to the Central softball team for repeating as state champions. Coach Rick Magruder’s club has the talent returning to make a strong run at a three-peat.

SPEAKING OF the West Virginia state track meet, Morgantown High captured the Class AAA girls title. The Mohigans are coached by Shadyside High product Steve Blinco. Amazingly, the Mohigans do not have their own track on which to practice.

I ATTENDED my first West Virginia Sports Writers Association Victory Awards Dinner a week ago in Clarksburg with Wheeling Sports Editor Josh Strope. The event honors hundreds of the Mountain State’s premier athletes and coaches. Former Wheeling Intelligencer Sports Editor Doug Huff is a driving force in making the dinner a first-class affair.

THE STANLEY Cup finals commence Monday in Pittsburgh. I like the Penguins in six.

ANDY SLAUGHTER has been named the new head boys’ basketball coach at Cambridge High. The 1999 Tri-Valley High grad played collegiately at Muskingum. He has been a head coach at Crooksville, Sidney and last year at Chillicothe Southeastern.

THE INAUGURAL Cynthia’s Basketball Camp for girls in grades four through eight will be held June 14, June 15 and June 17 at Steubenville Catholic Central High School. It is being coordinated by Carol and Todd Phillipson to remember their daughter, Cynthia Rose Phillipson. The 15-year-old died Nov. 2, 2014 after she collapsed during a basketball practice at Central.

On June 14 and 15, the camp will run from 5-8 p.m. It will resume on June 17, operating from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $50 and each camper will receive a t-shirt. Interested campers can register by sending an email to crpcf5599@gmail.com. Those registering need to provide a t-shirt size. Proceeds from the camp will go to the Cynthia Rose Phillipson Charitable Foundation, which provides funds for scholarships and educational purposes. The foundation also assists programs for grieving families and Mary’s Meals.