3-time NJ high school wrestling champ Anthony Knox barred from tournament over bleacher brawl involving his dad, other fans

A three-time New Jersey high school state wrestling champion was disqualified from competing for his fourth championship after a brawl broke out between fans, coaches and athletes while his dad was led away in handcuffs.

Anthony Knox Jr., a senior at St. John Vianney High, is accused of running into the stands when the violence erupted between his father, Anthony, and other spectators at the NJ District 25 Wrestling Tournament at Collingswood High School on Saturday, NJ.com reported.

A video of the brawl shows a match finishing up when a melee appears to break out in the bleachers.

Screams from spectators can be heard as more people join in or try to break up the chaos. A crowd of people are captured sprinting across the mat from opposite the gymnasium before the video ends.

The brawl broke out toward the end of the tournament, causing a 10-minute delay before things settled down and the final four bouts began.

Two people were arrested, and one wrestler was involved in the brawl, Collingswood athletic director Colleen Harte told NJ.com but declined to identify anyone involved.

However, Anthony Knox was seen being led away by police in handcuffs, the outlet reported, citing photos and witnesses.

The Post has reached out to the Collingswood Police Department for comment.

The news of Anthony Knox being involved in the melee comes as New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Executive Director Colleen Maguire said an investigation has led to the disqualification of a senior wrestler from being able to compete in the state tournament.

“Earlier today, I informed the Saint John Vianney High School administration that the student-athlete wrestling in the 126lb weight class has been disqualified from the NJSIAA wrestling state tournament,” she said, according to NJ.com.

Knox Jr., the top-ranked wrestler in the 126 lbs weight class in the nation, violated the association’s sportsmanship policy by “leaving the bench area during an altercation.”

“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,” she 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.”

St. John Vianney assistant principal Richard Lamberson said in a statement Tuesday that the school “respects the decision” by the NJSIAA, Asbury Park Press reported.

“This event, which escalated through the emotional feelings of adults, unfortunately, has resulted in impacting young athletes the most, and that is very disheartening,” Lamberson said.

“Our athletes must take accountability for their actions and we plan to use this event as a learning experience for our athletes and school community.”

The private Catholic school is located in Holmdel, about 30 miles outside Newark.

While Maguire or Lamberson did not name the student-athlete, Knox Jr. addressed the ugly controversy on Tuesday as his high school wrestling career abruptly ended.

“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 said on Instagram.

“Like anyone, my only concern at that time was protecting the safety of my family. While I respect the NJSIAA’s decision, my family and I are currently reviewing our options to determine the best course of action moving forward.”

Knox Jr. said he was “disappointed in this outcome, but remain happy and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had.”

“l am committed to supporting my teammates still representing our school and the sport of wrestling with the same passion and dedication that got us here,” he wrote.

“No matter what happens next, I will continue to train, compete, and push myself to be the best wrestler and person I can be as I continue my career onward at Cornell University.”

The ruling means Knox Jr. cannot compete in the district tournaments, eliminating him from wrestling in qualifiers for next week’s region tournaments.

“The Region 7 tournament bracket for the 126lb weight class will now be reseeded accordingly,” Maguire said in her statement.

The top four qualifiers in the regions then wrestle in the state championships in Atlantic City on March 8.

Knox Jr. was vying to become the Garden State’s fifth four-time state champion and was heavily favored to win this year, having gone 29-0 in the 2025 season, according to Flowrestling.