Anthony Knox Jr. cleared another legal hurdle Wednesday as a judge denied a motion by the New Jersey governing athletics association and St. John Vianney Wrestler cleared the path to compete for his fourth state championship.
The NJSIAA has filed a motion to remove a temporary restraining order the judge placed on Knox Jr.'s suspension due to involvement in the February 22nd brawl at Collingswood High School's NJSIAA District 25 Wrestling Tournament.
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels denied the NJSIAA motion Wednesday night, setting the stage for Knox Jr. to compete in the state wrestling championship that begins Thursday in Atlantic City.
“In less than a week, the courts quickly entertained the matter,” Knox Jr. Attorney Patrick J. Jennings, in a statement provided to the Post. “Once again, we commend the court's hard-working consideration of all legal arguments and fact-based circumstances, and our court's decision to curb the NJSIAA from destroying this youth.”
There was oral discussion Tuesday afternoon regarding the NJSIAA motion.
In a statement released by the NJSIAA on Wednesday night, the organization said it was “disappointed” by the results.
“We support our commitment to implement clear and consistent sportsmanship rules that apply to all student-athletes,” the NJSIAA said. “We were disappointed by the court's decision that allowed Anthony Knox to compete and sought the Court of Appeal to intervene. We certainly will comply with the temporary restraining order unless the Court of Appeal is not.”
Emergency appeal to the Court of Appeal Rejected on Wednesday night Similarly, the court states that the application “does not relate to the threat of irreparable injuries or circumstances in which justice interests require a decision in a short period of time.”
It's Knox's second 11th hour victory after a Mercer County Superior Court judge added a temporary restraining order to the NJSIAA suspension by effectively completing his high school career by a wrestler being banned from other state tournaments.
Knox Jr. is set to become the fifth wrestler in New Jersey High School history, winning four state championships and entering the Atlantic City tournament with a 143-1 record.
He is the number one seed in the tournament's 126 pound division after winning the Region 7 title on Saturday.
The controversy over Knox Jr. has become one of the biggest stories of high school sports in New Jersey, and comes from a brawl that led to a simple assault/willful accused crime that caused physical damage to Knox Jr.'s role in the case.
Knox Jr. left the bench area and entered the crowd after his father, Anthony Knox Sr., went to stand up against the opposing fans.
The video of the day showed a confused scene, with both Knox's son and father being handcuffed by police.
In a complaint filed by Collingswood police, Knox Jr. claimed he had “departed for punches.” [redacted] Repeatedly on the face and head, resulting in bruises and pain in the appropriate temple area. ”
Knox Jr. was suspended for the rest of the season by NJSIAA executive director Collen Maguire after ruling that the wrestler violated “sportsmanship policy and disqualification rules to leave the bench area during an argument.”
Jennings could argue that the NJSIAA violated Knox Jr.'s right to justice in proceedings over the investigation into the February 22nd incident, and that Maguire stepped over by unilaterally halting him.
Maguire and the NJSIAA have been supported by NJSIAA Executive Committee officers and New Jersey Sen. Paul Sarlo, both issued a statement on Tuesday.
“I don't think the NJSIAA disciplinary action should be overturned. It sets a bad precedent for academic sports and a bad example for young athletes,” Sarlo said as part of his statement.
