The rise and sudden fall of New Jersey’s greatest wrestler

How Anthony Knox went from the cusp of history to cautionary tale
St. John Vianney senior wrestler Anthony Knox waves to the crowd after he beat his Brick Memorial opponent with a 19-4 technical fall during the 126-pound bout at St. John Vianney High School, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 in Holmdel, N.J.  Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
By Jake Aferiat | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Anthony Knox sat on an unkempt bed inside his family’s Monmouth Beach home on Feb. 19. His latest prize twirled in his hands there in his bedroom.

Dressed in a gray Cornell T-shirt and red plaid pajamas, the St. John Vianney senior showcased his newest set of high-end wrestling shoes. He has maybe a hundred pairs, he estimated.

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About the Authors
Jake Aferiat | Reporting
Jake Aferiat is an award-winning reporter who has covered high school sports since 2022. He is a graduate of Penn State University and covers boys soccer, wrestling, softball and the NJSIAA for NJ Advance Media.
Andrew Mills | Photography
Andrew Mills is a senior staff photographer at NJ Advance Media.

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