Former New Jersey high school wrestling sensation Anthony Knox continued his recent run of success on the international circuit, finishing as runner-up at the 2026 Senior World Team Trials Challenge last Friday in Louisville, Kentucky. The Rutgers commit reached the 57kg (125.7 pounds) finals before falling to three-time NCAA champion and Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee.
Seeded No. 2, Knox advanced to the finals with an 11-0 technical fall victory over 2026 Pan American champion and NCAA All-American Liam Cronin in the semifinals on Thursday. The victory came weeks after Knox earned bronze at the 2026 U.S. Open in Las Vegas.
Knox Continues Freestyle Success
Knox has become one of the country’s top young freestyle wrestlers. Last year, he was named Most Outstanding Wrestler while winning the U20 Men’s Freestyle National Championship at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas. He followed that up by claiming the U20 World Team Trials title at 57kg in Geneva, Ohio, earning a berth to represent Team USA at the U20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Major Addition for Rutgers
Rutgers received a major boost in January 2026 when Knox committed to the program in January. Knox, a four-time New Jersey state champion from St. John Vianney High School, gave Rutgers one of the nation’s top incoming lightweights, after he de-committed from Cornell.
While Knox’s talent represents a clear boost for Rutgers wrestling, ongoing legal issues stemming from last year’s to a high-profile postseason altercation, had clouded his recruitment.
A Storied High School Career
Knox stands among the elite in New Jersey wrestling history. He concluded his high school tenure with a remarkable 144-1 career record, capturing four individual state championships, a feat achieved by only five wrestlers in the state history. Notably, two others in this exclusive group are Rutgers legends: Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano, both of whom brought national prominence to the program…