Anthony Knox Jr. is suing after a wild brawl on the NJ District 25 Wrestling Event at Collingswood Excessive College on Saturday led to his disqualification — and successfully ended his highschool wrestling profession.
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the three-time New Jersey highschool state wrestling champion in opposition to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation, the governing physique of highschool sports activities within the Backyard State that banned the teenager wrestler for his alleged function within the combat.
Knox stated Wednesday that he rushed into the group after seeing his dad in the course of a bunch hostile group of opposing dad and mom, a choice that led to Knox being disqualified from competing for a fourth state title.
“I saw my family being surrounded,” Knox Jr. stated, in response to ABC7. “And I’ve always lived by the motto that family is over everything.”
Video from Saturday’s brawl confirmed a wild scene that erupted towards the top of the match within the stands.
The household claimed that the combat had been the results of opposing followers shouting remarks towards the staff and the Knox household.
“I saw a bunch of grown men yelling racial slurs at kids that I’ve been training since they were 6 years old, cursing at my son, cursing at my wife,” the daddy of Knox Jr., Anthony, advised CBS New York on Wednesday. “As a man, I walked over, walked up into the stands, and asked the guy to stop. At that point, I was assaulted. Never threw a punch. Never hurt anybody. Never ran up there like a bat out of hell, just throwing punches at people. None of that happened. I got pushed down the bleachers. I could have gotten seriously injured. Then I got surrounded by about 10 other families.”
Debra, the mom of Knox Jr., stated that the scenario continued to get “worse and worse” because the day went on and stated that “nobody stepped in” to attempt to cease the scenario from escalating earlier than the combat broke out.
Video posted on social media does allege to point out Knox Jr. changing into bodily concerned within the melee and purported to point out Knox Jr. and his father being taken away in handcuffs by uniformed officers.
A listening to will happen on Thursday morning over Zoom in Mercer County Superior Court docket, NJ.com reported.
“We appear before the Court tomorrow and hope to obtain that which was denied by NJSIAA: due process and fundamental fairness,” Patrick Jennings, the lawyer representing Knox Jr., advised The Submit in an announcement.
Within the grievance, considered by The Submit, it’s alleged that the “chaos” was the product of unruly dad and mom not associated to Knox and claimed that Collingswood Excessive College failed to offer a “safe space” for the match to happen in.
It additionally took concern with the investigation into the incident, which had been performed by NJSIAA Government Director Colleen Maguire.
“Her ‘investigation’ consisted of materials that were not provided to Mr. Knox at any point in time. Mr. Knox’s participation in the tournament cannot be taken away without notice and an opportunity to be heard consistent with the United States Constitution and New Jersey Constitution. Mr. Knox denies that he violated any NJSIAA Rule of Regulation during the District 25 Wrestling Tournament. As a result of the Disqualification Notice, Mr. Knox has suffered damages and irreparable harm,” the grievance learn.
The swimsuit is in search of an injunction of Knox Jr.’s disqualification in order that he might proceed to compete within the NJSIAA wrestling match.
An NJSIAA spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the lawsuit.
Maguire stated in an announcement saying the choice referred to as it one which she didn’t make “lightly” and he or she stated that she was “aware of the consequences to the student-athlete. He is a senior and this disqualification effectively ends his high school career.”
Knox Jr. attends St. John Vianney Prep College and is slated to wrestle for Cornell College within the fall.
Cornell coach Mike Gray advised NJ.com that he had spoken with Knox Jr. concerning the incident and that he gained’t lose his spot on the staff over the incident.
Gray described the dialog as “tough” however didn’t go into an excessive amount of additional element.
“I prefer to keep that conversation between us. It’s not about me, it’s about the kids and trying to do whatever I can to help them. There’s not much more I can say other than it’s a tough situation,” he stated.
