New Florida athlete screening requirement catches hidden heart condition

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Fifteen-year-old Jacob Mauger had played soccer since he was 8 without dizziness, fainting, or trouble breathing.

A three-minute EKG screening at school in February found what routine checkups had missed: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, an extra electrical pathway in his heart that could cause a dangerous rhythm and potentially lead to cardiac arrest.

Mauger, an incoming freshman at Lemon Bay High School, received the screening ahead of Florida’s new requirement for first-time high school athletes. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, incoming ninth graders and students in grades 10 through 12 who have never participated in an FHSAA-sanctioned sport must complete an EKG screening.

Laura Mauger said her son had never shown any signs that something was wrong.

“My heart just dropped into my stomach, because you don’t know where this is going to go, what it’s going to lead to, what the outcome is,” she said. “All you know is that there’s something wrong with your son’s heart.”

Doctors confirmed the condition and corrected it through an ablation procedure on May 29. Jacob was cleared to return to soccer on June 14 and is now back training as a goalkeeper while continuing to pursue his dream of playing professionally.

Dr. Eric Eason, medical director of pediatric cardiology at Golisano Children’s Hospital, said a medical history and physical examination alone may identify about 20% of conditions that can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Adding an EKG increases detection to about 70%-80%.

“By doing all these EKGs and detecting these kids that do have disease, you’re able to do something about it before they have a cardiac arrest,” Eason said.

Who We Play For estimates that about one in 300 young people is living with an undetected heart condition that places them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

Jacob encouraged other athletes not to fear the screening or what it might uncover.

“It’s worth it,” he said. “Don’t be scared. You have to overcome your fears.”

Lee Health, the School District of Lee County, and Who We Play For will offer free EKG screenings Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Next Level Church, 3637 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Myers. Back-to-school physicals and student enrollment assistance will also be available.