Father Of 4-Time State Wrestling Champion Charged With Simple Assault After Brawl

HOLMDEL, NJ — The father of the four-time state wrestling champion from St. John Vianney High School has been charged with simple assault following a brawl at a February wrestling match, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

The fight broke out on Feb. 22 at the District 25 Wrestling Tournament at Collingswood High School, officials said.

Both spectators and wrestlers (including St. John Vianney wrestler Anthony Knox Jr.) were reportedly involved in the fight, and court documents said Knox Jr.'s father, Anthony Knox Sr., entered the opposing team’s designated section of the gym bleachers “where he confronted several West Deptford spectators.”

During this time, police said an altercation occurred with multiple parties involved, and Knox Sr. ended up on the gym floor at the bottom of the bleachers with another spectator.

From there, court documents said the spectator fell to the floor, at which time “the defendant attempted to kick/stomp him numerous times.”

According to a report from NJ Advance Media, Knox Sr. said he was “confronting spectators that were taunting St. John Vianney wrestlers and using racial slurs.” West Deptford denied those allegations, the report said.

Both Anthony Knox Sr. and Anthony Knox Jr. were charged with simple assault (a disorderly persons offense) following the incident, according to complaints filed by the Collingswood Police Department, and Knox Jr. was temporarily disqualified from competing in the rest of the NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (NJSIAA) wrestling tournament.

In a statement sent to Patch, NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire cited violations of the association’s sportsmanship policy and rule for leaving the bench area during an altercation as reasons behind Knox’s disqualification.

“I did not make this decision lightly. I am fully aware of the consequences to the student-athlete. He is a senior and this disqualification effectively ends his high school career,” Maguire said. “However, my role is to uphold the integrity of high school athletics by ensuring that all participants adhere to the same rules and are held to the same standards of sportsmanship and safety.”

In a statement posted to his Instagram, Knox Jr. said his concern at the time of the incident was protecting his family’s safety, and that while he respects the NJSIAA’s decision, he and his family were reviewing their options “to determine the best course of action moving forward.”

The action later came in the form of a lawsuit filed by Knox Jr.’s family, which was aimed at allowing him to continue competing in the wrestling tournament.

From there, NJ Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels placed a temporary restraining order on Knox’s suspension, which allowed him to continue competing.

The NJSIAA later appealed this decision, but the court denied the association's request for a new ruling, which allowed Knox Jr. to go on competing and win his fourth regional wrestling title and fourth state championship.

Both Knox Sr. and Knox Jr. are scheduled to appear in court on April 2, according to court documents.

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• Disqualified Wrestler, Family Sue To Get Him Back In State Tourney: Report
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