A complete timeline and overview of the brawl in the crowd, NJSIAA suspensions, arrests and what happened to the Cornell commit.
The 126-pounder Cornell commit Anthony Knox Jr. has had an eventful past couple of weeks leading up to his fourth straight State championship win becoming the fifth wrestler in New Jersey history to win state all four times.
On Feb. 22, Knox was involved in a brawl that included his father/coach who confronted another at Collingswood High School at the District 25 tournament. Knox’s father confronted a fan who was supposedly yelling and cursing at Knox’s teams. Knox’s father was then involved with a confrontation with the spectator and multiple other viewers. Knox said he ran and jumped into the brawl once he said he saw his father.
The only ones that were handcuffed were Knox and his father and led away in police vehicles and the NJSIAA swiftly disqualified Knox from competing in the State Championship on Feb. 25.
In turn the next day Knox would sue the NJSIAA to be allowed to compete in the rest of the season and attempt to compete for his fourth straight state championship.
That Friday on Feb. 28 Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Bartels overturned the NJSIAA disqualification before weigh-ins for regionals and for his State Championship. The NJSIAA released a statement saying “The NJSIAA respects the decision of the Mercer County court; however, we strongly disagree with it. We will be appealing and considering all other options. In the meantime, Anthony Knox will be permitted to wrestle in the regional tournament under the terms of the temporary restraining order.”
On March 5 Anthony Knox Jr. was charged with simple assault just days after winning regions the weekend before and days before his state championship match would be held.
Knox would go on to win his fourth state championship that weekend on March 8. He still has a court date in Collingswood on April 2 where if ruled in favor of the NJSIAA Knox could be stripped of his title but for now the cloud of drama and chaos has come for a halt for a moment.
