St. John Vianney wrestler Anthony Knox won his fourth region wrestling title Saturday, accepted his medal at center mat and then no-showed for both the podium and champions photos.
Knox also declined to speak with reporters.
He made a beeline for the exit, just as he did Friday night. On Saturday, however, he left through the front door.
Knox, now 32-0, became the first four-time regional champion in program history with his first-period technical fall in the Region 7 tournament at Lacey High School.
He won with his third tech fall in the two-day tournament, getting a two-point nearfall as the first period ended in an 18-2 victory.
Knox, who has won 135 consecutive bouts, earned advancement to next week’s NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 NJSIAA State Championships in Atlantic City. However, his appearance at Boardwalk Hall is still in question.
Last Tuesday, NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire disqualified Knox from the remainder of the state tournament for his role in a brawl instigated by Knox’s father, Anthony Knox Sr.
The fight took place during the District 25 tournament at Collingswood High School on Feb. 22. Maguire disqualified Knox, ruling that he had violated NJSIAA sportsmanship rules.
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Bartels disagreed with Maguire’s ruling and reinstated Knox less than an hour before weigh-ins on Friday, which allowed Knox to wrestle in the regional tournament.
On Friday, the NJSIAA filed a request for stay pending appeal in Mercer County, asking an appellate division judge to overturn the decision by Bartels.
Three of the top 4 place winners on the podium in the 126-pound weight class at Region 7 (l to r): 3rd place Jayce Cappello of Toms River East, 2nd place Aidan Flynn of Lacey and 4th place Ramon Alfonso Arroyo of Kingsway Regional, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Lacey, N.J. Region champion Anthony Knox, who won his fourth consecutive region championship, apparently left the gym immediately after receiving his medal.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
Knox Jr. and Sr. were pictured in internet photos in handcuffs last Saturday after the brawl was quelled by police and school security. Charges by Collingswood police and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office are still pending.
Thanks to the decision by the judge Friday, Knox’s continues his quest to become only the fifth four-time state wrestling champion in state history.
Knox Sr. was not seen in the gymnasium on either Friday or Saturday. There was a heavy police presence at the school on both days. Lacey Athletic Director Aimee DelVento-Evans had “no comment” when asked if Knox Sr. had been banned from the event.
It was, however, an interesting day for Knox Jr.
He appeared in the gymnasium shortly before Lehigh introductions Saturday, wearing a red Cornell wrestling t-shirt, black shorts and headgear with the white “C” for Cornell on the red ear covers.
Knox, the No. 1-ranked 126-pounder in the nation, is committed to Cornell, which is an NCAA powerhouse and coached by Mike Grey, a four-time N.J. state champ.
Knox was chatting with Vianney teammate Rocco Dellagata and Lacey’s Killian Coluccio when he was approached by a 9-year old boy asking him to autograph his water bottle. Knox obliged and signed the bottle belonging to 9-year-old James Jacobs of Lakehurst.
Knox then posed for a selfie with the boy, who gleefully dashed into the stands to show his dad.
When Knox was introduced to the crowd, he received respectful applause.
Knox scored a takedown eight seconds into the bout. He cut Lacey’s Aidan Flynn loose and almost immediately followed with a seven-point move, a cradle, which resulted in a takedown and four-point nearfall. He released Flynn twice more and took him to the mat two more times.
Leading 16-3, Knox was awarded two points with two seconds left for another pinning combination.
Knox came out to the center of the mat with the other three state tournament qualifiers but skipped out on the tradition podium shot. He later did not appear in another shot with the other 13 regional champions.
Knox was one of six champs for St. John Vianney, which also had four second-place finishers and one third.
Joe Zedalis covers Shore Conference football for NJ.com. He can be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com.
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appears in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now!
Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)