American Ninja Warrior JR Kids Season 1 2018 Episode 4
Here’s a breakdown of the format:
-Ninjas will compete in three divisions: 9-10 years old, 11-12 years old, and 13-14 years old. They will compete in head to head races.
The qualifying rounds feature four ninjas per division. They will start in a seeding round, with the two fastest ninjas from that round taking on the two slowest ninjas in the knockout round.
The winners of the two knockout rounds move on to the final showdown, where the winner will move on to the semifinals.
-The winner of each division at the end of the season receives a $15,000 prize.
Also, Laurie Hernandez will be joining Matt and Akbar as co-host this season.
9-10 Year Old Division (Ninja Mentor: Drew Dreschel)
The course: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, I-Beam, Floating Tiles, Spin Cycle, 13 Foot Warped Wall (with two hand holds)
Seeding Round: Willie Waerig vs Taylor Greene
Over 98 million people have watched a video of Taylor racing her coach and winning on YouTube.
And Taylor showed the speed when she took the lead using a one arm dismount on I-Beam.
Willie got hung up on the 3rd obstacle, allowing Taylor to increase her lead to one she would not lose.
Both competitors hit the buzzer, but Taylor hit hers first.
Seeding Round: Danika Helland vs Nikko Sohn
Nikko got off to a great start, but Danika was near even with him going into I-Beam.
It was there that Nikko regained a small lead, but Danika hung right with him.
The two were even on Spin Cycle when Danika fell into the water.
Nikko hit the buzzer and took the victory.
During the break…
Knockout Round: Taylor Greene vs Danika Helland
Taylor won a tough race with another one arm dismount on the I-Beam to move on to the Knockout Round.
Knockout Round: Nikko Sohn vs Willie Waerig
Despite finishing 2nd, Willie was 10 seconds faster than Nikko in the seeding round.
Nikko seemed to know this and came out flying.
Willie jumped off I-Beam with a slight lead.
Willie kept that lead all the way to the Warped Wall, but Nikko closed, forcing a photo finish.
A photo finish revealed Nikko hit the buzzer one tenth of a second faster that Willie to move onto the Final Showdown.
11-12 Year old Division (Ninja Mentor: Natalie Duran)
The course: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, Ring Toss, Floating Tiles, Fly Wheels, 13 foot Warped Wall (one hand hold)
Seeding Round: Brady Parks vs Autumn Mathisen
Autumn used to train with her brother on her family’s 135 acre farm before he passed away two years ago.
Now, she trains on the farm with her dog, Shamrock, who is adorable.
Autumn got off to the early lead.
But Brady, who is a gymnast, closed on the Ring Toss.
The pair was dead even going into the Warped Wall, but Autumn made it up clean, hitting the buzzer first.
During the break…
Seeding Round: Kylie Hughes vs Travis Wolfe
Kylie hit the buzzer after Travis fell on Ring Toss.
Knockout Round: Kylie Hughes vs Brady Parks
Kylie’s mom started ninja training after seeing Kylie do it.
Kylie’s start was slow, giving Brady a slight lead going into Ring Toss.
Trying to catch up, Kylie slipped and fell on Fly Wheels.
Brady hit the buzzer and advanced to the Final Showdown.
Knockout Round: Autumn Mathisen vs Travis Wolfe
The competitors have a dance off before they start racing.
Autumn raced out to a big lead early.
A one armed dismount by Autumn on Ring Toss only increased her lead.
Travis pushed to catch up, but he fell on the third obstacle again.
Autumn hit another buzzer, setting up a rematch in the Final Showdown.
13-14 year old Division (Ninja Mentor: Meagan Martin)
The course: Archer Steps, Tic Toc, Floating Tiles, Devil Steps, Flying Shelf Grab, 13 foot Warped Wall (no hand holds)
Seeding Round: Ryleigh Rodgers vs Nicoles Aviles
This matchup features a boxer (Nicoles) vs a diver (Ryleigh).
Nicoles got off to a quick start.
The lead only grew growing into Flying Shelf Grab, but Nicoles fell on the fifth obstacle.
Ryleigh made it past Shelf Grab before climbing the Warped Wall and hitting the buzzer.
Seeding Round: Daniel Jones vs Sophia Lavallee
Sophia has been to five continents.
Daniel raced out to a big lead, but Sophia passed him on Devil Steps.
Daniel retook the lead on Flying Shelf Grab for good, climbing up the Wall and hitting the buzzer.
During the break…
Knockout Round: Nicoles Aviles vs Daniel Jones
Daniel advanced to the Final Showdown after Nicoles, once again, fell on the Flying Shelf Grab.
Knockout Round: Ryleigh Rodgers vs Sophia Lavallee
Ryleigh has a spinal condition that forced her to retire from gymnastics at 12 years old.
After four surgeries, she replaced gymnastics with diving and ninja competition.
Sophia raced out to the early lead.
The lead grew on Floating Steps.
And Sophia kept the lead all the way the Warped Wall, hitting the buzzer and advancing to the Final Showdown.
9-10 year old Final Showdown: Taylor Greene vs Nikko Sohn
Taylor raced out to the early lead in a battle of unbeatens.
The lead grew as she flew over Floating Steps.
Another one armed dismount on Spin Cycle helped send Taylor up the Warped Wall and on to the semifinals as a potential favorite to win the entire competition.
11-12 year old Final Showdown: Brady Parks vs Autumn Mathisen
Brady got the jump start in this rematch.
Brady missed a peg on Ring Toss, allowing Autumn to take the lead.
Brady saved himself after nearly falling on Ring Toss. Brady would not save himself on Fly Wheels.
Autumn hit the buzzer and moved on to the semifinals.
13-14 year old Final Showdown: Daniel Jones vs Sophia Lavalee
Another rematch saw Daniel race out to a quick lead.
But he hesitated on Tic Toc, and Sophia took the lead.
Another lead change happened as the pair passed over Floating Tiles.
It looked like Daniel was on his way to the semifinals as he entered Flying Shelf Grab, the obstacle he took the lead for good on in their first race, ahead.
But Sophia made an adjustment, making a super quick dismount through the final two shelfs.
Then, she climbed up the Warped Wall quickly and hit the buzzer four tenths of a second ahead of Daniel.
And we have all girls advancing to the semifinals!!!
Your Semifinalists:
9-10 year old division: Taylor Greene
11-12 year old division: Autumn Mathisen
13-14 year old division: Sophia Lavalee
Leave a comment