Anthony Knox’s high school wrestling career isn’t over.
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels ruled in Knox’s favor on Friday, granting his request for a temporary restraining order from postseason disqualification.
The three-time state champion will be wrestling at the Region 7 tournament on Friday at Lacey.
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Bartels' ruling came just after 2:30 p.m. Friday, only hours before the start of the region tournament.
“We’re very grateful that the court took this matter on an expedited basis, closely considered all the legal and factual arguments and appropriately enjoined NJSIAA from destroying this young man’s illustrious high school career,” Patrick Jennings, Knox’s attorney, told NJ Advance Media. “From head to toe, NJSIAA’s decision was wrong.”
In a statement, the NJSIAA said it plans to appeal:
“NJSIAA respects the decision of the Mercer County court; however, we strongly disagree with it. We will be appealing and considering all other options. In the meantime, Anthony Knox will be permitted to wrestle in the regional tournament under the terms of the temporary restraining order.”
Knox was disqualified on Tuesday for the rest of the postseason by NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire because of his involvement in a brawl at District 25 in Collingswood on Saturday. Knox and his father, Anthony Sr., can be seen on video separately leaving school property in handcuffs and being led into patrol cars by police.
In the ruling, Bartels said, “Given the prominent role high school athletics play in society, this Court acknowledges irreparable harm to someone at the pinnacle of his high school career.”
The Collingswood Police Department is still investigating and determining if charges will be issued to Knox and his dad, said Robert Levy, the NJSIAA’s attorney during Thursday morning’s hearing.
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Jennings requested a temporary restraining order so Knox could wrestle while being given time to fight the ban issued by the NJSIAA.
Jennings said Knox would suffer irreparable harm and lifelong injury should his suspension be upheld. He also questioned Maguire’s ability to have the power to make such a decision and stated that the decision, which he believes purposely came later in the week, violates the Due Process Clause in the 14th Amendment that involves equal protection laws.
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“She’s doing this behind closed doors,” Jennings said of Maguire’s decision at Thursday’s hearing. “Ms. Maguire, in hours, is able to do that behind closed doors? This is a creature of their (NJSIAA) own making. This deprives (Knox) the opportunity to be heard. But today, for the first time, they give us all this material. The only reason we received it, is because over the last 24 hours, we were able to put a show-cause temporary restraining order together and we had a court that had the time to prioritize this. And Friday would come and go, and everything this man worked for his entire life would be gone.”
Maguire said in a Tuesday afternoon statement that Knox violated the NJSIAA’s sportsmanship policy as well as the rule that states an athlete cannot leave the “bench area” to participate in an altercation or face disqualification from competition.
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Video across several social media platforms shows Knox running into the stands in defense of his father, who confronted a group of fans who were apparently ridiculing St. John Vianney. Knox has told news stations that his goal was to protect his family in the altercation.
Levy argued that Knox should be held accountable for his actions — and that the association has indisputable evidence the wrestler broke its rules.
“Any harm he (Knox Jr.) is alleged to have received is of his own conduct,” Levy said. “What the NJSIAA did is akin to tough love. (Knox Jr. can be seen) running into the crowd and participating in the melee that ensued. That participation in that melee included punching an individual. That victim identified Mr. Knox as the person punching him. There is no dispute of that fact. In what world does that not constitute a violation of the regulations imposed by the NJSIAA? I don’t believe this is a very complicated case.”
Jennings also attacked the rule the NJSIAA used to disqualify Knox: that any player that leaves the bench area during an altercation gets an automatic disqualification.
The District 25 Tournament had 10 schools in attendance and wrestlers are permitted to roam the gym and were not required to sit in designated areas for their team. Jennings argued that Knox didn’t necessarily “leave a bench area” to participate in the melee.
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“There is no bench at this tournament,” Jennings said. “This is not an interscholastic dual meet.”
Levy closed his remarks by saying this case isn’t an instance where a temporary restraining order should be issued. He believes it would be unfair to the wrestlers at Region 7 at Lacey as well as the ones competing in next week’s action in Atlantic City.
“The remedy is being sought by the plaintiff will result in an unacceptable burden for the schools and student-athletes participating in this tournament,” Levy said. “The student-athletes participating in this tournament have a right to know whether or not if they participate, what the results are in real time. This is not a case where somebody’s house is going to be torn down tomorrow. This is case where an individual cannot participate in a wrestling tournament.”
Knox Jr., a Freehold native, is chasing the opportunity to be the state’s fifth four-time state champion. He lost once in his four years at St. John Vianney and is considered to be one of the greatest high school wrestlers in N.J. history.
Here’s the entire ruling:
Ryan Patti can be reached at rpatti@njadvancemedia.com or via direct message here.
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