February 25th was a night to remember but for all the wrong reasons. Things got completely out of hand at the Region 7 Wrestling Tournament, ending with a top New Jersey high school wrestler getting disqualified and his dad getting hauled off in handcuffs. The three-time state champ was aiming for his fourth title, but instead, he found himself on the sidelines after allegedly violating the NJSIAA sportsmanship policy. Safe to say, this was a night Collingswood High School won’t be forgetting anytime soon. So, what exactly happened?
Well, chaos erupted at the NJ District 25 Tournament when Anthony Knox Jr. reportedly ran into the stands after a fight broke out between his father, Anthony Knox Sr., and other spectators. The madness caused a 10-minute delay before officials managed to get things under control and finish the tournament. But now, as everyone tries to make sense of it all, Anthony Knox Jr. has finally spoken out, ready to share his side of the story.
Anthony Knox Jr speaks out on wrestling controversy
Recently, Anthony Knox Jr. took to Instagram to break his silence on the incident that led to his shocking disqualification. His post was later shared on X by wrestling insider Justin Basch, who captioned it: “Crazy story unfolding over the past few days in New Jersey as 3x State Champ, going for #4; Anthony Knox is now DQ’d after an altercation in the stands last week. Knox, committed to Cornell, was looking to become just the 5th wrestler to become a 4x NJ State Champ. He released this statement on Instagram today.” Along with the post, Basch shared a screenshot of Knox Jr.’s statement.
New Jersey’s top-seeded 126-pound wrestler addressed the controversy, explaining what happened from his perspective. “As many of you know, I have been disqualified from my next two matches due to an unfortunate incident that occurred in the stands at Collingswood HS well after I had finished competing at the district tournament,” Knox Jr. wrote. He acknowledged the NJSIAA’s decision but stated that his priority at that moment was his family’s safety. “Like anyone, my only concern at that time was protecting the safety of my family.”
Crazy story unfolding over the past few days in New Jersey as 3x State Champ, going for #4; Anthony Knox is now DQ’d after an altercation in the stands last week.
Knox, committed to Cornell, was looking to become just the 5th wrestler to become a 4x NJ State Champ. He released… pic.twitter.com/nvcKT2Rb0z
— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) February 26, 2025
Despite the setback, Knox Jr. made it clear that he remains grateful for his wrestling journey. “I am disappointed in this outcome, but remain happy and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had,” he said. He also pledged to continue supporting his teammates, “I am committed to supporting my teammates still representing our school and the sport of wrestling.”
Unfortunately, the ruling means Knox Jr. will not be able to compete in the district tournaments, which automatically eliminates him from qualifying for the regional and state championships.
Three-time state champ disqualified but was it justified?
Knox Jr.’s role in the event was reported to the public during an announcement by New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Executive Director Colleen Maguire who revealed that state tournament wrestling authorities disqualified a senior wrestler. She clarified that Knox Jr. as the 126-pound sports ranking leader in the nation had been disqualified for breaking the sportsmanship policy when he left his bench seat during an altercation. Wait… that’s it? Knox Jr. entered the wrestling spectator area for any reason other than fighting or throwing punches.
Apparently, yes. The NJSIAA’s policy is strict. According to the NJSIAA sportsmanship policy, athletes need to stay within designated areas and avoid behaviors that could worsen situations, particularly during athletic events. According to the policy rules of the NJSIAA Anthony Knox Jr. broke their policies by moving from the bench to the stands when fights occurred despite his motives to protect his loved ones.
The severity of the situation remains unacceptable but Maguire declared that his athletic oversight involves maintaining excellence in high school athletic competition through equal rules and fair standards for safety and sportsmanship. St. School official Richard Lamberson pointed to accountability when he said John Vianney High School would make this incident serve as an educational moment for student-athletes as well as for the wider community. Knox Jr.’s disqualification will not be eased in any way through educational measures.
The streak for championship titles ends for Knox Jr. as he will stay on the bench to see the top four teams advance to state championships on March 8. The rule that blocks his participation in district tournaments prohibits his bid for a fourth state championship title. Just like that, what was supposed to be a historic wrestling run is now a what-could-have-been.
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