Barrington Basketball Player Earns RI Coaches Courageous Award

BARRINGTON, RI — A Barrington High senior basketball player who helped his team reach the Elite 8 playoffs months after the latest in a series of heart procedures has been awarded the 2020 Rhode Island Basketball Coaches Association Courageous Award. The RI Basketball Coaches Association announced Ryan Bonneau as this year's recipient and released the nomination letter from his friend and teammate, Will Rywolt.

"When I first heard about the Courageous Award," Rywolt wrote, "I immediately thought of my teammate, co-captain and best friend, Ryan Bonneau."

Rywolt chronicled Bonneau's journey through his first open-heart procedure at five months old, then had a heart valve replaced at age 9, then again at age 14. When he was 16 years old, Rywolt said one of the wires broke through Bonneau's chest, causing him to bleed after an AAU game. Bonneau completed the game, then that October, had another procedure to remove the wire.

Barrington went on to reach the Elite 8 that season.

"Ryan has gone through so many surgeries and procedures through his life and has continued to play basketball at the highest level," Rywolt wrote. "He is a great point guard, and a better teammate, later and friend."

For his senior project, Bonneau held a toy drive for Children's Hospital of Boston and delivered a carload of toys to the hospital where he had four of his operations.

"Ryan truly represents everything the Courageous Award is all about," Rywolt wrote. "He has overcome heart issues that would have sidelined most people, yet continues to play at the highest level. He is a great candidate for this honor."

Rywolt's full nomination letter for Bonneau can be read here.

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