Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Robert E. Levy Served as Counsel to NJSIAA in Championship Revocation Decision

Unanimous Controversies Committee ruling addresses the scope of an athletic association’s disciplinary authority and the procedural standards governing its exercise.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC announced today that Partner Robert E. Levy served as counsel to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) in the proceedings that resulted in the revocation of the 2025 regional and state wrestling championships won by former St. John Vianney student-athlete Anthony Knox Jr.

The NJSIAA Controversies Committee voted 8-0 to revoke the Region 7 and state championships, finding that Knox violated the Association’s Sportsmanship Policy and Bench Rule during the District 25 tournament on February 22, 2025. The Committee’s written decision was filed with the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer County.

The matter drew statewide attention because Knox had become only the fifth four-time individual state champion in New Jersey wrestling history. After the NJSIAA’s initial disqualification determination, Knox challenged the ruling in Superior Court and obtained temporary relief that permitted him to compete while questions of procedural due process were litigated.

While the Superior Court case was pending, NJSIAA conducted a full de novo evidentiary hearing before its Controversies Committee. The Committee took sworn testimony from law enforcement, the Association’s Executive Director, and the tournament coordinator. and reviewed documentary and video evidence before issuing its decision. The evidence presented by the eyewitness testimony of the police officer who was responsible for tournament security established that during the Tournament Knox left the bench area, entered the spectator area, and assaulted a juvenile spectator. His conduct violated NJSIAA Rules and Regulations.  Based upon the evidence presented to the Controversies Committee, Knox’s award of the State Championship was revoked.

“The testimony presented to the Committee corroborated NJSIAA’s Executive Director’s initial decision finding that Knox violated the Rules concerning student conduct at athletic events. These Rules are designed to ensure the safety and well-being of student athletes and spectators alike.  Participation in high school sports is not merely about winning and losing; it is also about instilling sportsmanship as part of a student’s educational process.  NJSIAA is to be complimented upon serving those principles”, said Robert E. Levy, Partner at Scarinci Hollenbeck.

The Committee’s decision addresses several questions of general application to organizations that govern their members through bylaws and internal regulations, including the duration of an association’s authority over participants during a sanctioned event, the reach of rules drafted for one competitive format when applied to another, and the evidentiary basis on which sportsmanship violations may be adjudicated.

Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Litigation practice represents public entities, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and membership associations in administrative proceedings, internal investigations, and litigation involving governance, due process, and regulatory compliance.

About Robert E. Levy

Robert E. Levy is a Partner at Scarinci Hollenbeck and is a Certified Civil and Criminal Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. His practice focuses on complex civil and criminal litigation, with clients including public entities, corporate and business entities, educational institutions, and membership associations. He successfully defended New Jersey’s legislative redistricting plan. He previously served as Supervising Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey from 1984 to 1994, as a managing Assistant Prosecutor from 1976 to 1984, and has represented the NJSIAA in prior matters, including its 2023 eligibility and recruiting proceedings involving Camden High School.