FOURTH KNOX: St. John Vianney’s Anthony Knox becomes first Shore Conference wrestler to win four state championships

ATLANTIC CITY — The emotions Anthony Knox had bottled up during his unprecedented run to Shore Conference history all came out as the clock hit zero in his final high school match.

His sixth and final takedown of Bergen Catholic’s Nathan Braun locked up a dominant 18-4 major decision just before the buzzer sounded in the NJSIAA 126-pound state final. Knox stayed on his knees for a moment, soaking in the unbelievable achievement he set out to attain from the moment he stepped on a high school wrestling mat. After his arm was raised for the 144th time in his high school career, he ran into the arms of his mother and father sitting matside and the three shared a tearful yet joyous moment together.

Finally, the dream was reality.

On Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall, Knox completed the greatest wrestling career in Shore Conference history with his fourth state championship, putting him in a league of his own locally and becoming just the fifth male wrestler in New Jersey history to win four state titles.

The St. John Vianney senior, ranked No. 1 in the nation at 126 pounds, once again dominated the tournament with bonus-point victories in all five bouts – two technical falls and three major decisions – while scoring an eye-opening 81 points. As usual, he left no doubt.

“Even some of the greats, Olympic-level greats who have come out of this state weren’t even four-time state champs,” St. John Vianney head coach Chris Notte said. “It’s such an honorable and prestigious small list who are unbelievably elite, and Anthony is now part of that list.”

Knox joins Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic), Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield), Andrew Campolattano (Bound Brook), and Mike Grey (Delbarton) as New Jersey’s four-time state champions. Grey, New Jersey’s first four-time champ, will be Knox’s future head coach at Cornell University.

Knox declined to speak when approached by Shore Sports Insider following his state finals match. He has done so since becoming embroiled in controversy stemming from a brawl at the NJSIAA District 25 Tournament on February 22.

During the incident, his father, Anthony Knox Sr., entered the stands where West Deptford fans were sitting to confront them for what he said were racial slurs and taunts directed at St. John Vianney wrestlers. Seconds later, chaos erupted with punches thrown and bodies strewn about. Video showed Knox Jr. entering the stands and becoming physically involved in the altercation, and days later the NJSIAA disqualified him for violating rules that prohibit players from leaving the bench area and for violating the association’s sportsmanship rules. Knox Jr. maintains he entered the stands to defend his family.

The NJSIAA’s ruling didn’t last, as Knox’s lawyer Patrick J. Jennings was able to convince Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Bartels to grant a temporary restraining order that allowed Knox to participate in the Region 7 Tournament on February 28 and March 1. The NJSIAA filed an appeal, but that was also struck down one day before the state tournament.

Knox, 18, was charged with simple assault-purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury by Collingswood police, who say he repeatedly punched a minor in the head, according to court documents. He has a court date of April 2.

Some people believe his legacy is tarnished and that he should not have been able to wrestle the remainder of the postseason. Others believe he acted in defense of his family and should not be punished for that. Knox is now a polarizing figure for his actions off the mat.

Inside the circle, however, his greatness is unquestioned. He entered high school with immense hype after a decorated youth career and he lived up to all of it. Ranked No. 1 in the nation at 113 pounds as a freshman, Knox was not shy about stating his goal of becoming a four-time, undefeated state champion, but that goal took a hit during his freshman year when he was defeated in overtime of the Escape the Rock Tournament final by Delaware Valley (Pa.) junior Zachary Jacaruso.

After that, he was unstoppable. The loss only fueled his fire and set him back on course for a legendary career. He finished his four years with a 144-1 record, winning four district, four region, and four state championships. He won by bonus points in 17 of his 20 career state tournament bouts, won three titles at the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament, and helped St. John Vianney win the 2024 NJSIAA Non-Public B team championship.

How Anthony Knox will be remembered is in the eye of the beholder. But strictly on the mat, there is no debate. He is the greatest wrestler in Shore Conference history, and maybe the best the state has ever seen.