HOLMDEL, NJ — The four-time state wrestling champion from St. John Vianney High School has had his fourth title stripped by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).
The decision comes after wrestler Anthony Knox was caught up in a February 2025 brawl that broke out at a wrestling match in South Jersey.
In a letter sent to Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels, details on an NJSIAA hearing regarding Knox's role in the brawl and whether he violated association policies were made public.
The NJSIAA Controversies Committee voted 8-0 that Knox violated their Sportsmanship Policy "by engaging in unsportsmanlike and flagrant physical misconduct" at the February 2025 match.
Additionally, the committee also determined that Knox was in violation of the Bench Rule when he left the bench area at the match, and voted that his Region 7 title and subsequent State Championship should be revoked.
"We do not come to this conclusion lightly and understand that some may disagree with our revocation of the title won by Knox," the NJSIAA wrote. "However, interscholastic sports are designed to do much more than support student athletic achievement."
"NJSIAA Rules reflect the fundamental goals of school athletics in supporting personal learning and growth," the association continued. "High school athletics is just as much about fostering teamwork, leadership, and resilience as it is about winning titles, given that these lessons will extend beyond the sports field into each student's academic and personal life."
The association went on to say that athletics "teach sportsmanship, cooperation, and respect for others," and found that Knox "did not demonstrate these qualities at the tournament on February 22, 2025."
"To maintain consistency in punishment and the integrity of our sports program, we find on a de novo review that Knox's actions require disqualification and forfeiture under the NJSIAA Rules," the association wrote.
The committee's decision is the final decision of the NJSIAA unless an appeal is filed with the association's Executive Committee no later than 10 days before the committee is scheduled to meet on Sept. 16.
NJSIAA attorney Robert E. Levy and Knox's attorney, Patrick J. Jennings, are scheduled to appear before Judge Bartels on Wednesday for a management conference, according to a report from NJ.com.
The decision to strip Knox of his title comes after a fight broke out in the bleachers at Collingswood High School on Feb. 22, 2025, with wrestlers and spectators, including Knox and his father, involved.
Following the incident, the NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) disqualified Knox from competing in the rest of the wrestling tournament, with NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire citing violations of the association's sportsmanship policy and rule for leaving the bench area during an altercation as reasons behind the disqualification.
While she didn't make the decision lightly, Maguire said her role is to "uphold the integrity" of high school athletics and ensure that all participants adhere to the same rules and are held to the same standards of sportsmanship and safety.
"Let it be clear, the association cannot, and will not, condone actions that violate its sportsmanship policy or its member school-approved rules," Maguire previously said.
Though Knox was disqualified from the tournament, a lawsuit filed by his family later helped change that status, and a temporary restraining order on Knox's suspension allowed him to continue competing, granting him the chance to win his fourth region title.
Knox and his father, Anthony Knox Sr., were charged by Collingswood Police in connection with the incident in March 2025.
According to the report from NJ.com, a plea bargain deal with the prosecution led to the charges against Knox Jr. being reduced to disorderly conduct in January 2026.
Following his career with St. John Vianney, Knox went on to sign to compete with Rutgers Wrestling.
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