It’s time for an all-new season of America Ninja Warrior. Some of this week’s contestants are:
Jessie Graff, Flip Rodriguez, Drew Drechsel, Isaac Caldiero, Barclay Stockett, ‘Cajun Zeus,’ ‘Doctor Dubyk’, ‘El Chivo,’ Dan Courtenay, Davyon Hancox, Charity LeBlanc, James Wilson, Cody Johnston, Bj Robinson, Father Stephen Gadberry, Mathis ‘Kid’ Owhadi, Josh Salinas, Karsten Williams, Jonathan Horton, and Daniel Gil.
This year, there are several changes to the show, including a lower age limit and an 18-foot mega wall. It’s all for a one million dollar prize. For those of you new to American Ninja Warrior, here are the qualifying obstacles:
1. Floating steps
2. Catch and release
3. Bouncing spider
4. Tuning forks
5. Crank it up
6. Warped wall
They can try to scale the 14-1/2 foot wall or attempt the monstrous 18-foot wall. If they make it to the top of the 18-foot wall, they get an additional $10,000 in addition to their spot in the qualifying finals.
Up first is Father Stephen Gadberry, who ‘confesses’ that he wants to be a ninja. LOL he’s through the floating steps, and moves to catch and release, barely holding on at the end. He jumps n the bouncing spider, but can’t catch the cargo net and lands in the water.
Here are some of the episode’s other highlights:
Cody Hucal: she fell short on the cargo net too.
Jeff Harris: made it through the cargo net, but he got slammed by the bouncing spider.
Dr. Favia Dubyk: She gets through the floating steps. The screamer jumps on the catch and release, but unfortunately hits way too hard trying to release.
Andrew Naquin, also known as the Cajun Zeus: He gets through the dreaded cargo net. Now it’s time for the spider, but gets shot down by the trampoline.
Bernie Maese: He couldn’t do catch and release at all.
Tawnee Leonardo: Made it through the catch and release, but missed the bouncing spider.
Kevin Klein: The tuning forks tuned him out.
Karen Wiltin: Grabs the cargo net and Michael Irvin cheers her on! The mom of two works her way through the bouncing spider. She nails the trampoline. Yes! She’s doing great. She missed by one bar. DAMN. But she got through most of it. I was really rooting for her.
Other highlights:
The youngest contender Mathis “kid’ Owhadi is giving it a shot at 19 years old. Finishing in 2:36:58, he completed the competition.
The other competitors who definitely made it through this week:
Abel Gonzalez — who has done this competition before. He finished this course in 3:52:26
Tremayne Dortch — no time was given, but he was the 3rd to finish.
Thomas Stillings
Josh Salinas destroyed the competition and he had the fastest time of the night with 2:21.
56-year-old Jon Stewart who is an ANW veteran and even though it took him almost six minutes to finish the course, he did it.
Mike Murray
Tyler Humphrey
Matthew Day had the fastest time at 2:09:52.
Daniel Gil — the king of Ninja Warrior — is back. Did he make it through without falling?
Of course. Not only did he get the fastest time, but he scaled the 18-foot wall for $10,000!
Remember that even those who failed may still make the qualifying round of Ninja Warrior if their time is good enough.
This is an incredibly tough competition and these contestants make this couch-potato look like a sloth. It’s amazing though to see they work so hard.
