WIAA rules Campbellsport track star will be able to compete in regionals

CAMPBELLSPORT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Campbellsport senior will be able to compete in his regional track meet, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has confirmed. 

Track star Joshua Onwunili has been appealing the WIAA's decision for several days after it stated Onwunili was ineligible to run because of his dad's visa status. 

Onwunili and his family spent the last two years on a mission trip in Ghana. Onwunili and his mom returned to their hometown of Campbellsport, but his dad was unable to because his visa had expired. According to the WIAA's handbook, both parents must reside within the school district. 

Onwunili's family tried to prove his father cannot live in Campbellsport: he is not a US citizen and overstayed a visa, so he is not allowed to return to the US.

Onwunili said his parents are thrilled with the successful appeal, saying, "They've been supporting me, they've been getting all these documents together, everything the WIAA needs."

The 18-year-old described the past few days as a roller coaster, but now he's ready to get back on the track, help his team, and challenge state records.

He said it's a "Big relief. I feel ecstatic, I feel really excited."

His coach, Derek Toshner, told us, "I'm excited, I'm happy, I kind of want to break down and cry."

Onwunili will run three events at regionals: the 4x100 meter relay, the 200 meter sprint, and the 100 meter sprint, where's he's expect to challenge the state record.

Toshner said, "He's the fastest kid in our division by over a half of a second."

Onwunili says running track is mentally taxing, but nothing like the bureaucratic process of the past week. "I hope it helps kids in the future with their cases and their circumstances and competing in sports," he said.

And Toshner hopes the attention on this case can help change the rule. "You want to make a rule to make it more fair, and as a result it affects kids it was never meant to affect in the first place."

"Let Josh Run" became a campaign on social media that received the attention of several representatives across Wisconsin, including State Representative Jerry O'Connor. 

"We provided some information that was the remaining item. [The WIAA] needed something official to back up the documentation they were already provided that said his dad, Godfrey, his visa had expired," said Rep. O'Connor. "Otherwise, they were asking us for a statement from the U.S Embassy in Ghana."

After several appeals, the WIAA has confirmed Onwunili can compete in the state's regional meet on Monday.

O'Connor says the appeal process shouldn't have taken so long.

“I’m thrilled to see this happen, but this inability to make a commonsense decision is very frustrating," said Rep. O'Connor. 

Onwunili isn't the only student affected by this rule. According to Campbellsport head coach Derek Toshner, in the last three years, a similar case has happened twice to the Campbellsport track and field team alone. O'Connor says he wants to see the rule changed. 

"I think there needs to be a review here," said O'Connor.