Some state legislators urge WIAA to reconsider stance on student-athlete’s eligibility

CAMPBELLSPORT, Wis. (WAUK) – A handful of state legislators are calling on the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association to reconsider its decision to render a high school student athlete ineligible to compete.

The WIAA recently decided that Josh Onwunili, a senior at Campbellsport High School, is not eligible to compete in varsity sports due to its rule on transfer students.

Onwunili told WITI-TV in Milwaukee that the WIAA cited the transfer rules when declaring that he was ineligible.

According to WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, Onwunili began his high school career in Campbellsport, a village of about 2,000 people northwest of Milwaukee and southeast of Fond du Lac, as a freshman. Then, he moved to Ghana with his parents, who are missionaries, for two years before returning to Wisconsin for his senior year. His parents remained in Ghana while Onwunili returned to Campbellsport to finish high school and prepare for college.

Three Wisconsin state lawmakers are calling on the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board to reverse its decision that ruled Campbellsport High School senior Josh Onwunili is not allowed to compete in varsity events.https://t.co/25gpjIvWsO

— TMJ4 News (@tmj4) May 15, 2024

Several state legislators have taken notice of the situation, including one who says that it may be necessary to change how high school sports are managed in Wisconsin.

“I hope the WIAA will do the right thing, grant Onwunili’s appeal, and #LetJoshRun,” Rep. Cindi Duchow said in a statement. “But given that the WIAA continues to demonstrate a concerning history of poor decision making, some of my colleagues and I in the legislature are currently looking at other options of how to regulate high school sports in Wisconsin.”

The @wiaawi should #LetJoshRun pic.twitter.com/KIhmn76H1A

— Rep. Cindi Duchow (@RepCindiDuchow) May 16, 2024

Three legislators signed on to an open letter to the WIAA in an attempt to get officials to change their mind.

“This ruling wrongly punishes a student for something beyond his control,” Sen. Duey Stroebel said on social media. “The WIAA exists to support student athletes, but this decision denies a student the chance to culminate his senior season at the highest level.”

This ruling wrongly punishes a student for something beyond his control.

The WIAA exists to support student athletes, but this decision denies a student the chance to culminate his senior season at the highest level.

The WIAA should re-think their decision and #LetJoshRun https://t.co/vEfZ8HOcI3 pic.twitter.com/1qgzuEAieI

— Duey Stroebel (@SenStroebel) May 15, 2024

In the letter, Stroebel and Reps. Ty Bodden and Rob Brooks argue that the circumstances are unique and that his eligibility being denied was because of a “residential technicality.”

“The rule in question, while designed to maintain fairness, in this case, appears to be an obstacle to fairness itself, denying an exceptional student-athlete a chance to compete based on bureaucratic constraints,” the letter reads. “The WIAA exists to support student-athletes, but this decision appears to be one of adults choosing to hinder them.”

Rep. Jerry O’Conner called the situation “unjust” and questioned the decision, suggesting that there were other motives in denying eligibility.

“Is this a slight because his parents are Christian missionaries?,” O’Conner said in a statement. “Is this a power move by a board of directors who are more concerned about their turf than the amateur turf Josh wants to compete on?”

The eligibility situation has caught the attention of national news outlets. Campbellsport track and field coach Derek Toshner has been lobbying politicians and media members to look at the situation and is advocating for change.

“Do we live in a democracy or dictatorship?” Toshner said on social media. “The WIAA needs to change how they look at this rule, or more kids will have a negative experience.”

The WIAA said in a statement that the transfer rule had been correctly applied.

The rule reads: “A student who transfers from any school into a member school will be subject to the transfer rules for one calendar year, unless the transfer is made necessary by a total and complete change in residence by parent(s). The calendar year (365 days) will be determined from a student’s first day of attendance at the new school.”

Another potential hurdle to eligibility is competing in non-school events. WIAA rules state that student-athletes are allowed only two such competitions during each regular sport season. Onwunili is reported to have competed in at least one event, according to WITI-TV and a social media post by his track and field coach. In that non-school event, Onwunili told WITI that his time would have set a new state record.

According to WPR, the WIAA will make a decision based on its rules of eligibility as more information is presented to them.

The WIAA is a non-profit organization governed by its member schools. Its Board of Control consists of school officials around the state.