American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs Ninja – Season 1: Episode 2 Recap
(If you just want to see who won what round, the points, and obstacle list, check out our Stats & Database about the episode)
Live from Los Angeles, California…
In case you missed last week, let’s breakdown the format of Ninja vs. Ninja again:
-The field is 36 teams, 3 ninjas each.
-For each matchup, everyone runs head to head.
-The first team to win 3 races will be victorious
-If neither team can get to three races after everybody’s run, relays races will decide the winner.
-Each episode will feature two opening matchups. The winners will face in the night’s final matchup for a shot at the playoffs later in the season.
Tonight’s Course (different from last week’s) includes: The Sonic Swing, the Tic Toc, Floating Tiles, the Pole Grasper, the Spin Cycle, and Warped Wall (6 obstacles total)
Matchup 1: Dark Horse (Karson Voiles, Tammy McClure, Lance Pekus) vs Midwest Muscle (Ethan Swanson, Kirsti Pratt, Tyler Yamauchi)
Race One: Voiles vs Swanson
The two men ran even through three obstacles before Voiles took a huge lead at Pole Grasper, a lead he’d keep until the end.
Dark Horse 1 Midwest Muscle 0
Race Two: McClure vs Pratt
How would Pratt, a.k.a. “the Machine” follow up last year’s upset over Jessie Graff?
By beating McClure after the Dark Horse team member fell early in the course and tying the score.
Dark Horse 1 Midwest Muscle 1
Race Three: Pekus vs Yamauchi
The main event of this matchup features Lance Pekus, “The Cowboy”, against the Tyler Yamauchi, “Stay-at-Home Dad.” I’m sure Yamauchi really appreciates that side by side comparison.
Of course, “the Cowboy” has to lose his shirt before he starts running.
The two men fly the through the course with Pekus taking the lead at the pole grasper.
That lead would hold as “the Cowboy” gives his team the advantage going into the relays.
Dark Horse 2 Midwest Muscle 1
Relay Race:
The women run first with Pratt giving MidWest Muscle the lead.
Yamauchi struggled on the Pole Grasper again, but escaped with enough of a lead to give Swanson what he needed to finish the race and tie things up.
All Tied at 2!!!
Do or Die Relay:
Now, each team on that last relay had a clear disadvantage on a particular leg.
For Dark Horse, it was Tammy McClure on Tic Toc. She fell both times she tried it.
For Midwest Muscle, it’s Tyler Yamauchi on the Pole Grasper.
But neither team made any changes to their lineups for the final race.
The move paid off for Dark Horse, as McClure made it clean through Tic Toc on her third attempt while Pratt hesitated, helping Dark Horse advance to the next round.
Dark Horse wins 3-2
Matchup 2: LaBreckfast Club (Chris DiGangi, Jesse LaBreck, John Alexis Jr.) vs Team Tarzan (Travis Weinand, Emmi Rose, Ben Melick)
Race 1: DiGangi vs Weinand
Weinand has a few too many nicknames for my liking. And I think he can add the “I got stuck on Pole Grasper” ninja to his many nicknames after a hold up on that obstacle helped DiGangi get the win.
LaBreakfast Club 1 Tarzan 0
Race 2: LaBreck vs Rose
Will “Flex” LaBreck keep her unbeaten streak in head to head races going?
She would, winning easily as Emmy Rose was left on the Tic Toc as LaBreck hit the buzzer.
LaBreakfast Club 2 Tarzan 0
Race 3: Alexis Jr. vs Melick
Alexis completed the sweep as Melick fell in the water at the Pole Grasper.
LaBreckfast Club may be ready to join Team Ronin as favorites for the overall prize.
LaBreckfast Club wins 3-0!!!
Next Round Matchup: Dark Horse vs LaBreakfast Club
Added obstacles include the Salmon Ladder (of course), Rumbling Dice, and the return of ZigZag Climb from last week.
Race 1: Voiles vs DiGangi
Voiles big leap on Tic Toc gave him the early lead.
But DiGangi ran him down, making the two neck and neck on Rumbling Dice.
Both men looked gassed as the two men made their way up ZigZag Climb, where Voiles hit the top first, but heartbreakingly reached for the wrong buzzer.
DiGangi reached up and hit the proper buzzer, giving LaBreckfast Club the lead.
LaBreafkast Club 1 Dark Horse 0
Race 2: LaBreck vs McClure
Dropping the first race is extra heartbreaking for Team Dark Horse with LaBreck competing on the other side.
LaBreck got caught on the net, giving McClure the early lead.
But LaBreck passed her at Pole Grasper and looked well on her way to a victory.
McClure, however, made it up a Warped Wall for the first time and nearly made a comeback before falling on the Salmon Ladder.
LaBreakfast Club 2 Dark Horse 0
Race 3: Alexis Jr. vs Pekus
Can the Dark Horse team captain keep his team alive?
“The Cowboy” made it a battle, but it wasn’t enough as the 6’6 Jon Alexis held off a charging Pekus and hit the buzzer.
Team LaBreckfast Club wins 3-0!!!!
“Flex” LaBreck’s team cruises into the playoff with an unbeaten record.
Jake Murray, Barclay Stockett, and a team of US Olympic Athletes headline next week!!!
See you then.
Photo Credit: USA Network
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