TV Recap: S01E06 – Ninja vs Ninja American Ninja Warrior Qualifying Week 6

American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs Ninja – Season 1: Episode 6 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…

We are over the halfway point folks, but here’s your obligatory format reminder anyway:

-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 Includes: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, Tilting Ladders, Floating Tiles, Flying Monkey Bars, Warped Wall

Matchup 1: Lab Rats (Chris Wilczewski, Michelle Warnky, Brian Wilczewski) vs Big Dog Ninjas (Jody Avila, Brandi Monteverde, Josh Salinas)

Race One: Chris Wilczewski (Lab Rats) vs Jody Avila (Big Dog Ninjas)

Avila’s long legs were not enough to get him the early lead.

But his big frame did allow “The Big Dog” to pull ahead on Tilting Ladders.

Wilczewski tripped up on Floating Tiles, giving Avila the easy win.

Big Dog Ninjas 1  Lab Rats 0

Race Two:  Michelle Warnky (Lab Rats) vs Brandi Monteverde (Big Dog Ninjas)

Warnky is another lady who’s never lost in team competition.

And she took the early lead here as Monteverde struggled with Tilting Ladders.

Warnky took her time, using the big lead to her advantage.

Monteverde made a decent run to make it a little closer, but Warnky kept the lead, climbing the Wall and hitting the buzzer.

To Monteverde’s credit, she went ahead and finished the course, hitting the buzzer she promised her kids she’d hit.

Big Dog Ninjas 1  Lab Rats 1

Race Three: Brian Wilczewski (Lab Rats) vs Josh Salinas (Big Dog Ninjas)

Salinas started fast flying easily through Tilting Ladders.

Wilczewski was close behind until he fell on the same obstacle, giving Salinas the win.

Big Dog Ninjas 2 Lab Rats 1

Relay Race:

Warnky needed to give her team a big lead on the first leg, and she did just that.

Brian Wilczewski nearly lost it again on the Tilting Ladders.

But Salinas slipped on Floating Tiles, keeping the two teams even going into the last leg.

It was there that Chris Wilczewski raced out in front, hitting the buzzer and tying the score.

Big Dog Ninjas 2  Lab Rats 2

The Final Relay:

The order stayed the same for the deciding race, and Warnky gave her team and even bigger lead this time.

However, Brian Wilczewski didn’t fall, keeping the lead for his team as he tagged his brother.

And Chris finished the comeback, hitting the buzzer and advancing the Lab Rats to the next round.

Lab Rats win 3-2!!!!

Matchup 2: The Ballers (Lorin Ball, Paul Kasemir, Meiling Huang) vs Team Alpha (Brent Steffensen, Sydney Olson, David Yarter)

Race 1: Lorin Ball (The Ballers) vs Brent Steffensen (Team Alpha)

How is this matchup happening in the first round?

Both men came out fast, but Steffensen took the lead on Titling Ladders.

Unfortunately for Steffensen, the speed of Ball seemed to change his strategy on Floating Tiles as Steffensen tried to complete the obstacle in two leaps.

He failed, falling into the water and as Ball jumped over him to give the Ballers an early lead.

The Ballers 1 Team Alpha 0

Race 2: Meiling Huang (The Ballers) vs Sydney Olson (Team Alpha)

Huang raced out to an early lead as Olson struggled on the first obstacle.

Olsen pressed and it cost her as she fell on Tic Toc. The Ballers are one win away from advancing.

The Ballers 2 Team Alpha 0

Race 3: Paul Kasemir (The Ballers) vs David Yarter (Team Alpha)

The two men were even as they started Tilting Ladders.

Kasemir’s feet landed in the water on the third obstacle. But he not only held on, he stayed in the lead.

But Yarter passed Kasemir on Flying Monkey Bars. That pass made Kasemir press. And Kasemir’s fall gave Yarter the win.

The Ballers 2  Team Alpha 1

Relay Race:

For the second time, Olson fell on the course.

Ball took full advantage of the five second delay he received because of Olson’s fall.

The Ballers had no issues from there, completing the course and advancing on to the next round.

The Ballers win 3-1!!!

Next Round Matchup: Lab Rats (Chris Wilczewski, Michelle Warnky, Brian Wilczewski) vs The Ballers (Lorin Ball, Paul Kasemir, Meiling Huang)

The Course: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, Tilting Ladders, Floating Tiles, Flying Monkey Bars, Warped Wall, Salmon Ladder, Rumbling Dice, ZigZag Climb

Race 1: Chris Wilczewski (Lab Rats) vs Lorin Ball (The Ballers)

Wilczewski raced out in front of the normally speedy Ball.

Ball got a little wet on Floating Tiles, allowing Wilczewski to increase his lead.

Wilczewski took his time to try and preserve his energy.

And the move proved to be effective as Wilczewski kept a solid lead all the way to the buzzer.

Lab Rats 1 The Ballers 0

Race 2: Michelle Warnky (Lab Rats) vs Meiling Huang (The Ballers)

Huang wasted no time racing out in front of the undefeated Warnky.

But Warnky passed her on Tilting Ladders.

Huang pressed and took a huge leap on Floating Tiles. She fell, and Warnky put her team one win away from moving on to the playoff.

Lab Rats 2 The Ballers 0

Race 3: Brian Wilczewski (Lab Rats) vs Paul Kasemir (The Ballers)

Wilczewski raced ahead to a small advantage after the first two obstacles.

Tilting Ladders gave Wilczewski trouble early on. But he landed the obstacle perfectly here as Kasemir nearly fell on two different obstacles.

Wilczewski took his time to keep his energy, but that allowed Kasemir to catch up.

Unfortunately for Kasemir, he stumbled a bit on Salmon Ladder.

Wilczewski ran with it from there, completing the sweep the Lab Rats.

Lab Rats move on to the playoff 3-0!!!

Next week, Daniel Gil, Maggie Thorne, and Kevin Bull hit the course at a new date and time: Monday at 11 pm (10 central).  See you then!!!

Photo Credit: USA Network

Leave a comment