New Jersey state wrestling champion Anthony Knox Jr. and his father were handed their punishments after the two headed into the stands at a district tournament as a brawl broke out last year.
The Rutgers commit and his dad were initially charged with simple assault for purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury after the incident at Collingswood High School on Feb. 22, 2025, but they reached a plea bargain deal, receiving lesser punishments in Collingswood municipal court on Wednesday, NJ.com reported.
Knox Jr., who won four New Jersey state titles at St. John Vianney, followed his father into the stands to confront fans they claim were heckling the school’s wrestlers before the melee that left a minor injured. The heckling claims have been disputed by witnesses, according to NJ.com.
Knox Jr. had his charges reduced to disorderly conduct and was given one year of probation by Judge Brian Herman. The charges will be dismissed if he fulfills the requirements of his probation; he would face the full charges if he did not.
Herman also showed some leniency to Knox Sr., as the former MMA fighter faced up to one year in prison and a $2,000 fine. His charges were reduced to just disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, with a $1,000 fine imposed because of the plea agreement.
He was accused of stomping and kicking a spectator at the NJ District 25 tournament.
While Knox Jr. did not speak publicly in court, this father showed remorse while addressing the bench about the “truly unfortunate” incident.
“Some of the stuff that was said just enraged me in a way I haven’t been enraged before,” Knox Sr. said, per NJ.com. “I need to do a better job of controlling my emotions, no matter what. No matter what was said — didn’t make it right. I do apologize.”
The Knoxes was a part of a wild scene last year as video showed they entered the stands to confront rival schools’ fans, according to court documents.
Knox Jr. is accused of repeatedly striking a minor about the face and head area, resulting in pain and bruising of the temple area, according to the Collingswood police officer who filed the incident complaint.
Knox Jr.’s actions that night got him initially tossed from the NJSIAA state tournament before a successful legal appeal to restore his eligibility.
He ended up winning his fourth straight state title. Knox Jr. went 144-1 in high school and was the No. 1-ranked 126-pounder in the nation as a senior.
He was initially committed to Cornell, but reopened his recruitment last January and landed at Rutgers on Jan. 7, signing a lucrative NIL deal, according to NJ.com.
Knox Jr. is taking a gap year at the Spartan Combat Regional Training Center in Ithaca before joining Rutgers as the highest-ranked recruit in program history.
