High school wrestling is in turmoil in light of three-time state champ Anthony Knox having been suspended from a fourth championship following a free-for-all in the bleachers at the District 25 Wrestling Tournament at Collingswood High. But far from admitting defeat at the suspension, Knox is suing the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), alleging a technical deficiency in why he is suspended does not meet NJSIAA requirements. His lawyer is flagging a critical flaw in NJSIAA thinking—the failure to have a “bench” that Knox is asserted not to have vacated. Now, not only is the wrestling prodigy fighting a championship rival in court—but a high school wrestling career.
All of that transpired at the District 25 Wrestling Tournament, in which Anthony Knox was involved in what promised to be another step toward making a reputation in New Jersey state wrestling lore. That did not materialize. A violent melee in the bleachers, with fans, parents, and coaches involved, including Knox’s dad, ensued.
“There is no bench”, a very good point made by Anthony Knox attorney.
The NJSIAA suspended him specifically citing a rule about “leaving the bench”. At the district tournament wrestlers are scattered throughout the bleachers and there is no designated area for specific teams.… https://t.co/NUeCTQn9vY
— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) February 27, 2025
The situation escalated, with Knox jumping into the crowd as soon as he saw that his dad was in a heated argument with rival parents. “I saw my family being surrounded,” Knox explained. “And I’ve always lived by the motto that family is over everything.” But in jumping into the fray, Knox paid a swift price as a consequence, as the NJSIAA suspended him on a technical violation of the rule forbidding “leaving the bench.”
And that is where it becomes problematic. Anthony Knox’s attorney is now stating that at that event, no sectioned area was available because contestants were scattered about in the bleachers. That is, technically, a score of wrestlers also made exits from their areas in the melee. But no more than Knox alone received a suspension that essentially ruined his career, which makes the suspension more of a targeted punishment than a fair application of the rule.
Anthony Knox’s fight beyond the mat
With high school finally over, Knox is suing in court, not just stating that the ruling did not treat him justly but also that it did not give him due process. His attorneys have filed a lawsuit that will petition a court order overturning his suspension from returning to the mat. Attorney Patrick Jennings, who is representing Knox, brought into relief the inconsistency in the NJSIAA ruling by pointing out that “there is no bench. The NJSIAA specifically cited a rule about ‘leaving the bench,’ but at the district tournament, there is no designated area for teams.” Furthermore, he asserted that Collingswood High School did not establish a safe space, which allowed the situation to escalate to a level at which Knox felt that he had no alternative.
Despite the court battle, the NJSIAA is not budging on its decision. Executive Director Colleen Maguire defended the move, conceding that suspension is a tough sanction but maintaining that the rulebook merits it.“This is not something we took lightly. He is a senior, and this disqualification effectively ends his high school career,” Maguire told us. Despite claims from Anthony Knox’s supporters that the decision is unfair and is not in line with precedent, the NJSIAA is maintaining that its decision conforms with the ideals of the sport.
While Knox will have a position at Cornell University in the fall, in which he will be competing at a collegiate level, this lawsuit will determine whether or not that will be a final shot at making high school wrestling history in the state of New Jersey. Coach Mike Grey at Cornell has already spoken with Knox about the incident, stating that his spot on the team is not in jeopardy, describing it as “tough” but not something that will impact Knox in collegiate wrestling. Meanwhile, his on-the-mat future remains in court. If a judge rules in his favor, Knox could be reinstated. Otherwise, his high school legacy will be stained with a question mark, not another championship. The wrestling season is moving on in his wake, with Knox involved in a far more complicated battle—the kind that is not on the mat.
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