Anthony Knox Jr., a three-time New Jersey High School wrestling champion and a senior at St. John Vianney High School, ends up getting the chance to win four consecutive titles.
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels has admitted Knox Jr. – disqualified after a brawl at the New Jersey District 25 Wrestling Tournament – a temporary restraining order from his ban, allowing him to participate in the Regional 7 tournament on Friday.
However, Knox Jr. said in a statement that the Inter-Jersey Scholastic Athletics Association, which was disqualified after filing a lawsuit for violating sportsmanship policies by leaving the bench area during an argument, is set to appeal.
“The NJSIAA respects the Mercer County Court's decision, but the association said in a statement. “We are engaging and will consider all other options. In the meantime, Anthony Knox will be permitted to tackle regional tournaments under the conditions of a temporary restraining order.”
A brawl broke out between Knox Jr.'s father and other spectators towards the end of the tournament at Collingswood High on Saturday, resulting in Knox Jr. entering the stands and protecting the family this week as ABC7 was surrounded.
His father, Anthony, told the outlet, “I saw an adult man screaming racial slander at children who have been trained since he was six years old, cursing his son and his wife.”
“As a man, I walked over, walked to the stands and asked the man to stop,” Knox Jr.'s father told the outlet. “At that point, I was assaulted. I've never thrown a punch. Don't hurt anyone. I've never run from hell like a bat, I'm just throwing punches at people. That didn't happen. I pushed down the bleachers. I might have been seriously injured. Then I was surrounded by about ten other families.”
My high school wrestling career ended abruptly. @ant.knox/instagram
Knox Jr. and Senior were both taken away from school to police cars in handcuffs. According to NJ.com.
Knox Jr. is the country's top wrestler in the 126 pound weight class. Sports Illustration Ratingsand he promises to wrestletter at Cornell next year.
According to NJ.com, the incident did not affect his location on the team.
