Shawano Community High School senior Cody Urban failed to qualify Saturday for the WIAA Division 1 state wrestling tournament, but disappointment turned to excitement Tuesday.
Bay Port senior Jacob Jossart, who defeated Urban on Saturday to deprive him of a state berth, has withdrawn from the tournament.
That means Urban (15-8) will take Jossart’s spot and face Sauk Prairie senior Brandon Sprecher (40-2) in the 160-pound preliminaries Thursday afternoon in Madison.
“My coach just came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations, you’re going to state,’” Urban said of finding out the news Tuesday evening. “I was just so surprised.”
Urban said losing the second-place match Saturday to Jossart was a disappointment.
“Going into that final match, I felt I had a chance,” Urban said. “Then, knowing that my career was over, but then …”
Urban said the Jossart family reached out to him through his aunt, who works with Jossart’s mother. He could not say why Jossart would not be able to compete, and no other information on Jossart’s reason for withdrawing was available by the Leader’s press time.
According to the WIAA tournament procedures on substitutions, replacements are allowed for injury, illness, discipline or extenuating circumstances.
If Urban wins his opening match, he will face either South Milwaukee junior Tanner Dorangrichia (39-7) or West Bend East junior Jordan Gundrum (45-0) Thursday night.
Hortonville senior Nate Rynish (38-8) won the Green Bay sectional and will wrestle Middleton senior Nathan Dresen (40-7) Thursday.
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