A 3-time champion highschool wrestler in New Jersey who has been embroiled in scandal over a brawl throughout his match acquired an eleventh-hour win from a decide, giving him the go-ahead to compete for the state title.
The decide on Wednesday cleared the way in which for Saint John Vianney highschool senior Anthony Knox Jr. to compete within the state wrestling championships, which will get underway Thursday in Atlantic Metropolis. That call got here a day after Knox was charged for his alleged involvement in a fracas that broke out within the stands throughout his match on Feb. 22.
Knox was charged by Collingswood police with easy assault and inflicting bodily damage stemming from the struggle within the crowd that concerned his father. Movies posted to social media confirmed a chaotic brawl erupt within the stands of a highschool competitors in Camden County. Knox could possibly be seen within the movies working into the stands.
“I saw an angry mob surround my father and I made the decision to assist in his aid,” he mentioned at an earlier press convention.
Knox and his household have denied hitting anybody, saying they’re the victims. Police haven’t recognized any others concerned within the brawl.
“Parents started to become more and more irritated and the crowd started getting rowdy,” mentioned the student-athlete’s father, Anthony Knox Sr. “I never hit anybody. I was assaulted by a mob of people that have been thrown out of countless wrestling events.”
A highschool wrestler who was banned from competing after a brawl within the stands, was again on the mat following a last-minute ruling. NBC New York’s Chris Jose experiences.
Knox Sr. insisted he by no means threw any punches, however mentioned his son was left to pay the worth.
“No one asked my son after they came to the decision what happened with him. No one had a hearing for him. They just came to a decision on their own – they made him a scapegoat,” mentioned Knox Sr.
In consequence, Knox was suspended by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation (NJSIAA) for the remainder of the season for violating the sportsmanship coverage in addition to its “disqualification rule for leaving the bench area during an altercation.”
In impact, it meant Knox’s shot at a historic four-peat was over. However the household appealed that call, alleging the NJSIAA stripped Knox of his due course of. They gained a short lived reprieve, permitting him to compete till an extra order of the court docket. The decide mentioned NJSIAA’s choice to ban Knox Jr with out notifying him undermined public confidence.
The NJSIAA mentioned in a press release that they “are disappointed with the trial court’s decision allowing Anthony Knox to compete and have asked the appeals court to intervene.” The affiliation mentioned it could adjust to the short-term restraining order permitting Knox to compete, until different appeals courts rule in any other case.
The household’s lawyer mentioned Knox is ready to be in Boardwalk Corridor in Atlantic Metropolis Thursday and compete within the state championships. If he wins, it could be his fourth state title.
“We’re very pleased with the Decide’s choice and past grateful for the outpouring of help acquired from so many throughout New Jersey,” the household mentioned in a press release.
