A massive brawl involving fans, coaches, athletes and the father of one of New Jersey’s greatest ever grapplers erupted Saturday night during a high school wrestling match at Collingswood High School, leading to the arrest of two people and the launching of an investigation by the state athletic association, NJ Advance Media has learned.
Two people were arrested following the melee, according to Collingswood athletic director Colleen Harte, and at least one athlete was involved in the fight. Harte declined to identify the names of the people arrested. But Anthony Knox Sr., the father of three-time state champion Anthony Knox of St. John Vianney High, was seen being led away in handcuffs, according to a photo from the incident and witnesses.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said Saturday night the organization is aware of the brawl and gathering more information about the incident.
Collingswood Police declined to comment on the incident when reached Saturday night by NJ Advance Media. Following an initial message left for him, Knox Sr. declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.
The match Saturday included St. John Vianney, one of the state’s top-ranked wrestling programs this season, as well as several other schools.
In a live-streamed video of the event that has since been taken down from Collingswood Public School district’s YouTube page, a man believed to be Knox Sr. was seen in a white tank top leaving his seat in the bleachers, walking across the gym floor and re-entering the crowd on the other side of the scorer’s table. The man believed to be Knox Sr. confronted other spectators, igniting a massive brawl involving roughly a dozen people.
“There was an incident in the stands between a parent and an athlete and another group of parents and athletes,” Harte said. “We had staff there. Police and staff separated them. Two people were taken and arrested. We tried to clear the affected side of the gym and that didn’t work and so we cleared the entire gym.”
According to an NJ Advance Media reporter in attendance at the match, the incident happened at the end of the 190-pound championship bout at the District 25 tournament. St. John Vianney had won the first nine championship bouts, so when Pennsauken sophomore Kameron Hoskins scored a big move over St. John Vianney junior Thomas Foley, the crowd roared with approval.
Tensions boiled over as soon as that bout ended — a 12-11 decision for Hoskins — when Knox Sr. confronted a group of West Deptford fans in the stands. Chaos ensued, with other fans, wrestlers and spectators on the mat jumping into the crowd to join the fracas.
“We are aware of the incident that occurred during today’s wrestling event in Collingwood and are actively working to gather all the facts,” a statement from the NJSIAA said. “We do not condone this type of behavior in any capacity. As we assess the situation, we will provide an update as soon as more information becomes available.”
Video shows students rushing into the stands, though it’s unclear the extent of their involvement in the incident.
By NJSIAA rules, “any player that leaves the bench area during an altercation, regardless of whether the player engages in the altercation, shall be disqualified,” meaning any wrestler identified in the brawl would be DQ’d for the rest of the season.
The NJSIAA also “may use video and audio recordings to (1) identify and determine violations of its sportsmanship policy, (2) identify and determine players who left the bench area, and (3) ensure that disqualifications are correctly identified.”
It’s unclear whether Knox, the star wrestler, was involved in the melee. Knox is heavily favored to become N.J.‘s fifth four-time state champion, if he were to win in Atlantic City in two weeks.
The tournament was stopped for 10 minutes and the gym was cleared of all spectators for the final four bouts of the tournament.
More Anthony Knox news
- Judge denies NJSIAA’s request for new ruling; DQed wrestler can compete in A.C.
- Weighing In, Ep. 9: The Knox saga continues & previews for all 14 weight classes in AC
- Court decision in Knox case ‘sets bad example for athletes,’ N.J. politician says
- Wrestling champ ‘repeatedly’ punched a minor in head during ugly brawl, police say
- N.J. athletic directors support NJSIAA’s attempt to DQ Vianney wrestler Anthony Knox
Reporter John Lewis contributed to this report.
Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com.
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