Sumo entry questions

[Joe Petrow <sumoml@searchspell.com>]

We hear a lot about the difficulties of foreigners trying to enter the
Nihon Sumo Kyokai (sometimes first hand!)  But what is the current
situation like for Japanese?  Given the case of Japanese junior high
school graduate who meets the minimum age, height, and weight 
requirements, can pass a physical exam, and is determined to do whatever 
it takes to join the sumo world, is it a virtual guarantee that he will be 
able to get in?  If so, has there been a recent time when this was not the
case?

Also, has a foreigner ever entered sumo from a Japanese high school or
university and been given preferential Makushita banzuke ranking like
Miyabiyama and others?

  - The Other Joe