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Here is what to know about current Rutgers University freshman and former St. John Vianney High School standout Anthony Knox after he was stripped of the 2025 NJSIAA 126-pound wrestling championship by the NJSIAA Controversies Committee.
Knox and his family will be appealing the NJSIAA decision, according to reports.
Knox had become the NJSIAA's fifth four-time champion with an 18-4 major decision over Bergen Catholic's Nathan Braun on March 8, 2025 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.
The NJSIAA said Knox violated its sportsmanship policy and left the bench area during an altercation in the stands at the NJSIAA District 25 Tournament at Collingswood High School on Feb. 22, 2025.
The decision from the NJSIAA Controversies Committee is seen as being about the association trying to uphold power to enforce its rules in the era of frequent ligitation by athletes and their families.
More: NJSIAA strips Anthony Knox of title, full details from hearing | Exclusive
Article X of NJSIAA bylaws says that the Controversies Committee can impose penalties including the forfeiture of championship rights.
Knox and his father Anthony J. Knox were charged with simple assault and puposely/knowingly causing bodily injury in early March 2025.
Knox admitted guilt to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct at a municipal court hearing in Collingswood on Jan. 28. He was sentenced to a one-year probationary term, with his record to be cleared if he completes it successfully.
Knox’s father pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. He was fined $1,000.
The association felt the decision by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels on Feb. 28, 2025 to allow Knox to wrestle in the Region 7 Tournament - and then the state individual championships - limited its power to discipline indidviduals. NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire had disqualified him from the remainder of the state tournament
Bartels at the time said the disqualification would do Knox “irreparable harm.’’ Bartels also said Knox was denied due process.
Outside observers largely believe the due process part probably would have been taken care of if the NJSIAA controversies committee conducted a hearing promptly and allowed Knox's attorneys and family to present their own witnesses.
The NJSIAA controversies committee - more than a year after the previous litigation - voted in an 8-0 decision this past May to strip Knox of his 2025 region and state titles over violations of the NJSIAA’s sportsmanship policy and bench rule. The decision only became public Monday after it was included in a court document.
Knox did not attend this latest Controversies Committee hearing and neither did his attorneys. Having graduated from St. John Vianney in the spring of 2025, Knox's attorneys and family feel he is no longer subject to NJSIAA rules.
The NJSIAA had documented proof that Knox was served an affidavit informing him of the hearing on May 14 at 2:10 p.m. - the association's rules allow for such hearings to take place even if the charged party is not in attendance.
Knox's family is appealing the decision but the title he won remains vacant at this time.
During a management conference before Bartels on Wednesday, Knox’s attorney, Patrick Jennings, blasted the NJSIAA’s decision, nj.com reported.
“This is wrong,”Jennings said according to the report. “This is unconstitutional. This is not something that happens in the United States of America. What has gone on here, chasing him around, is absolutely absurd.”
Another hearing before Bartels is expected to take place in late September or early October.
The large percentage of wrestling fans and observers agree with Jennings and will always consider Knox a four-time state champion, in spite of the NJSIAA's decision and if the appeal by Knox's family is denied.
The NJSIAA's decision to strip Knox has been heavily unpopular with wrestling fans.
The title Knox won would remain vacant and not be awarded to Braun. That is consistent with past NJSIAA precedent.
According to NJSIAA records, Knox is the first wrestling individual or wrestling team to have a championship stripped.
In football, two teams have been stripped of championships.
The NJSIAA's other four-time state champions are current Cornell University head coach Mike Grey (Delbarton, 2003-2006); Bound Brook's Andrew Campolattano (2008-2011); Current Rutgers University associate head coach Anthony Ashnault (2010-2013) and Bergen Catholic's Nick Suriano (2013-2016).
Ashnault and Suriano wrestled for Rutgers and became that school's only two wrestling national champions in 2019. Campolattano wrestled for Rutgers.
Suriano won another national title as a senior in 2022 for Michigan. He also wrestled for Penn State as a freshman in the 2016-17 season.
Ashnault was an assistant coach at Rutgers for the 2021-22 season, an assistant coach at Princeton for two seasons from 2024-2026 and was named the Scarlet Knight's associate head coach this past April.
Campolattano wrestled two seasons at Ohio State and then part of the 2014-15 season for Rutgers.
Grey wrestled for Cornell and is in his sixth season as Cornell's head coach.
Knox is currently enrolled as a freshman at Rutgers and will be the Scarlet Knights' 125-pounder this season. He signed with Rutgers in January after he had decommitted from Cornell last December.
He had been taking a gap year (a break from formal education usually taken after high school) before attending Cornell. He was training at the Spartan Combat Regional Training Center in Ithaca, N.Y when he decommitted.
More: Anthony Knox on his Rutgers wrestling debut: 'It's going to be electric'
This past spring, Knox finished third at 57 kg in the U.S. Open and second at 57 kg in the Senior World Trials.
Rutgers begins its season in early November in a showcase event at Bethelhem, Pennsylvania against Navy. Its first home match is Nov. 15 against Lehigh.
Knox is expected to provide a major jolt of energy to a program that has has not had an All-American the last two seasons and three of the last four.
He is expected to be a national championship contender right away and to be an All-American.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: What to know about Rutgers' Anthony Knox after wrestling title stripped
Continue reading...
Knox and his family will be appealing the NJSIAA decision, according to reports.
Knox had become the NJSIAA's fifth four-time champion with an 18-4 major decision over Bergen Catholic's Nathan Braun on March 8, 2025 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.
Why did the NJSIAA act against Anthony Knox?
The NJSIAA said Knox violated its sportsmanship policy and left the bench area during an altercation in the stands at the NJSIAA District 25 Tournament at Collingswood High School on Feb. 22, 2025.
The decision from the NJSIAA Controversies Committee is seen as being about the association trying to uphold power to enforce its rules in the era of frequent ligitation by athletes and their families.
More: NJSIAA strips Anthony Knox of title, full details from hearing | Exclusive
Article X of NJSIAA bylaws says that the Controversies Committee can impose penalties including the forfeiture of championship rights.
What happened during the altercation involving Knox?
Knox and his father Anthony J. Knox were charged with simple assault and puposely/knowingly causing bodily injury in early March 2025.
Knox admitted guilt to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct at a municipal court hearing in Collingswood on Jan. 28. He was sentenced to a one-year probationary term, with his record to be cleared if he completes it successfully.
Knox’s father pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. He was fined $1,000.
The association felt the decision by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels on Feb. 28, 2025 to allow Knox to wrestle in the Region 7 Tournament - and then the state individual championships - limited its power to discipline indidviduals. NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire had disqualified him from the remainder of the state tournament
Bartels at the time said the disqualification would do Knox “irreparable harm.’’ Bartels also said Knox was denied due process.
Outside observers largely believe the due process part probably would have been taken care of if the NJSIAA controversies committee conducted a hearing promptly and allowed Knox's attorneys and family to present their own witnesses.
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NJSIAA Controversies Committee goes after Knox again
The NJSIAA controversies committee - more than a year after the previous litigation - voted in an 8-0 decision this past May to strip Knox of his 2025 region and state titles over violations of the NJSIAA’s sportsmanship policy and bench rule. The decision only became public Monday after it was included in a court document.
Knox did not attend this latest Controversies Committee hearing and neither did his attorneys. Having graduated from St. John Vianney in the spring of 2025, Knox's attorneys and family feel he is no longer subject to NJSIAA rules.
The NJSIAA had documented proof that Knox was served an affidavit informing him of the hearing on May 14 at 2:10 p.m. - the association's rules allow for such hearings to take place even if the charged party is not in attendance.
Is the decision final?
Knox's family is appealing the decision but the title he won remains vacant at this time.
During a management conference before Bartels on Wednesday, Knox’s attorney, Patrick Jennings, blasted the NJSIAA’s decision, nj.com reported.
“This is wrong,”Jennings said according to the report. “This is unconstitutional. This is not something that happens in the United States of America. What has gone on here, chasing him around, is absolutely absurd.”
Another hearing before Bartels is expected to take place in late September or early October.
Where does the Knox case stand in the court of public opinion?
The large percentage of wrestling fans and observers agree with Jennings and will always consider Knox a four-time state champion, in spite of the NJSIAA's decision and if the appeal by Knox's family is denied.
You must be registered for see images attach
The NJSIAA's decision to strip Knox has been heavily unpopular with wrestling fans.
Is the title going to be vacant or awarded to the other finalist?
The title Knox won would remain vacant and not be awarded to Braun. That is consistent with past NJSIAA precedent.
Has there been any other title vacated by the NJSIAA?
According to NJSIAA records, Knox is the first wrestling individual or wrestling team to have a championship stripped.
In football, two teams have been stripped of championships.
- Mainland, in 1995, was stripped of the South Group 3 championship due to the use of an ineligible player.
- Reports said North Bergen, in 2011, was stripped of the North 1 Group 4 championship, due to recruiting violations, but the NJSIAA still lists North Bergen as a champion.
Who are the four-time state wrestling champs?
The NJSIAA's other four-time state champions are current Cornell University head coach Mike Grey (Delbarton, 2003-2006); Bound Brook's Andrew Campolattano (2008-2011); Current Rutgers University associate head coach Anthony Ashnault (2010-2013) and Bergen Catholic's Nick Suriano (2013-2016).
Ashnault and Suriano wrestled for Rutgers and became that school's only two wrestling national champions in 2019. Campolattano wrestled for Rutgers.
Suriano won another national title as a senior in 2022 for Michigan. He also wrestled for Penn State as a freshman in the 2016-17 season.
Ashnault was an assistant coach at Rutgers for the 2021-22 season, an assistant coach at Princeton for two seasons from 2024-2026 and was named the Scarlet Knight's associate head coach this past April.
Campolattano wrestled two seasons at Ohio State and then part of the 2014-15 season for Rutgers.
Grey wrestled for Cornell and is in his sixth season as Cornell's head coach.
Where is Anthony Knox now?
Knox is currently enrolled as a freshman at Rutgers and will be the Scarlet Knights' 125-pounder this season. He signed with Rutgers in January after he had decommitted from Cornell last December.
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He had been taking a gap year (a break from formal education usually taken after high school) before attending Cornell. He was training at the Spartan Combat Regional Training Center in Ithaca, N.Y when he decommitted.
More: Anthony Knox on his Rutgers wrestling debut: 'It's going to be electric'
This past spring, Knox finished third at 57 kg in the U.S. Open and second at 57 kg in the Senior World Trials.
Rutgers begins its season in early November in a showcase event at Bethelhem, Pennsylvania against Navy. Its first home match is Nov. 15 against Lehigh.
What are the expectations for Knox at Rutgers?
Knox is expected to provide a major jolt of energy to a program that has has not had an All-American the last two seasons and three of the last four.
He is expected to be a national championship contender right away and to be an All-American.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: What to know about Rutgers' Anthony Knox after wrestling title stripped
Continue reading...
