American Ninja Warrior JR Kids Season 1 2018 Episode 8
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: Kiley Wolin vs Jack Cook
Kiley is an aspiring photographer who can do 100 pushups in a row, while Jack is a critter collector known as “Double Back Jack” because he likes to do backflips.
Jack got out to a big lead as Kiley was hesitant on the course at the start.
Jack took his time through the course, allowing Kiley to catch up.
But as both competitors swung on the Spin Cycle, Kiley fell.
Jack made it up the Warped Wall and picked up the win.
Seeding Round: Nick Porter vs Sienna Perez
Nick is the “Curly Ninja” for his curly hair, while Sienna is a rock climber.
Sienna also did a school project on Joe Moravsky.
Sienna raced out to the early lead.
Sienna moved quickly through the I-Beam, extending her lead.
Sienna would never relent as she led from start to finish, hitting the buzzer and taking the win.
During the break…
Knockout Round: Sienna Perez vs Kiley Wolin
Sienna shockingly fell on the 2nd obstacle, allowing Kiley to move on the Final Showdown.
Knockout Round: Jack Cook vs Nick Porter
Nick flies drones. Just keep it away from my yard, Nick.
Jack took the lead early, but Nick was right behind him.
The race stayed tight until Swing Cycle, when Nick swung and missed on the fifth obstacle.
Jack hit the buzzer and moved on to 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: Holden McNeil vs Claire Vachon
Holden wants to be an Olympic gymnast and trains with Flip Rodriguez.
Claire raced out to the early lead.
But Holden caught up and passed her on Ring Toss.
Claire hesitated on Floating Tiles, allowing Holden to grow his lead.
Both ninjas would hit the buzzer, but it was “Hurricane Holdy” who hit the buzzer first.
Seeding Round: Matthew Nichols vs Josh Auer
Josh, the “Bathrobe Ninja,” won his opening race.
Knockout Round: Josh Auer vs Claire Vachon
Josh gets his nickname from the fact that he walks outside first thing in the morning in his bathrobe to train on the obstacles his brother builds in the back yard.
And both of these ninjas play instruments as well.
Once again, Claire got off to a good start.
But a slip at the end of the 2nd obstacle allowed Josh to take the lead.
Josh frequently skipped the last parts of obstacles to get a faster time.
And that pushed the “Bathrobe Ninja” on to the Final Showdown.
Knockout Round: Holden McNeil vs Matthew Nichols
Matthew is a champion wrestler.
Matthew and Holden were even through two obstacles.
Holden took the lead on Ring Toss and Matthew struggled there for the 2nd straight race.
Holden did a somersault on his landing of the Fly Wheels (which it turns out was not on purpose) on his way to the semifinals.
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: Bryton Myler vs Ethan Bartnicki
Bryton is one of three siblings competing, while Ethan is a rapper (I’ll let somebody else assess the quality of it. I’m not the best judge of rap.
Ethan raced out to an early lead.
Ethan increased his lead on Devil Steps.
And Ethan would never look back as he climbed the Wall and claimed victory.
Seeding Round: Lauren Hotchkiss vs Anella Bolster
Lauren won despite not making it up the Wall thanks to Anella falling on Flying Shelf Grab.
Knockout Round: Lauren Hotchkiss vs Bryton Myler
Bryton is a third degree black belt who wants to be a stuntman when he grows up.
The pair was even through two obstacles.
Lauren pulled ahead on Devil Steps.
She kept that lead all the way to the end. And this time, she made it up the Warped Wall on her first attempt, advancing to the Final Showdown.
Knockout Round: Ethan Bartnicki vs Anella Bolster
Once again, Ethan was out to a quick start.
That lead only grew through Floating Tiles.
And Ethan would lead from start to finish once again as the rapper hit the buzzer and advanced to the Final Showdown.
9-10 year old Final Showdown: Kiley Wolin vs Jack Cook
Much like their first race, both ninjas moved tentatively through the course.
Jack built a decent lead, but Kiley was able to catch up on the Spin Cycle.
Unfortunately for her, Kiley fell on the fifth obstacle.
Jack hit the buzzer and is moving on to the semifinals
11-12 year old Final Showdown: Josh Auer vs Holden McNeil
“Hurricane Holdy” vs “The Bathrobe Ninja”
The two were even going into Ring Toss.
Josh used his long wingspan and early dismount to take the lead.
Holden kept it close, but Josh pushed his game to match, hitting the buzzer and advancing to the semifinals.
13-14 year old Final Showdown: Lauren Hotchkiss vs Ethan Bartnicki
Ethan moved quickly, but Lauren was keeping in striking distance.
Ethan doesn’t stop his whole run, and while the Texas photographer (Lauren) made a great run at it, Ethan was too much as he hit the buzzer and advanced to the semifinals.
Your Semifinalists:
9-10 year old division: Jack Cook
11-12 year old division: Josh Auer
13-14 year old division: Ethan Bartnicki
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