TV Recap: S01E09 – American Ninja Warrior Junior Kids 2018

American Ninja Warrior JR Kids Season 1 2018 Episode 9

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: Barclay Stockett)

The course: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, I-Beam, Floating Tiles, Spin Cycle, 13 Foot Warped Wall (with two hand holds)

Seeding Round: Logan Staggs vs Reeder Smith

If your local bar has an American Ninja Warrior trivia night, call Reeder. He’ll make sure your team wins.

Logan flew through the first part of the course.

That forced Reeder to pick up the pace, which he did, tying things up at I-Beam.

Reeder took the lead for good on Spin Cycle, claiming the win after he hit the buzzer.

Seeding Round: Penny Keenan vs Riley Macarthur

Penny’s brother, Zach, has already moved on to the semifinals, while Riley trains her four dogs at home. So if your dog is wrecking all the Christmas decorations, give Riley a call.

Riley took the early lead as both competitors took a very measured approach to the course

Penny struggled to reach the I-Beam, but she caught up and surpassed Riley once she did.

Penny hesitated jumping for Spin Cycle, allowing Riley to pass her.

But Riley slipped and fell on the fifth obstacle. Because Penny got there first, she is the winner.

During the break…

Knockout Round: Reeder Smith vs Riley Macarthur

Reeder took the win after Riley fell on Tic Toc. He chose not to finish so he could save his energy for the Final Showdown.

Knockout Round: Penny Kennan vs Logan Staggs

Logan’s coach is Thomas Stillings, the “Genie Ninja.”

Logan skipped the ropes again on the first obstacle.

His lead only grew as he flew over the Floating Tiles.

Logan led from start to finish and advanced to the Final Showdown.

11-12 Year old Division (Ninja Mentor: Najee Richardson)

The course: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, Ring Toss, Floating Tiles, Fly Wheels, 13 foot Warped Wall (one hand hold)

Seeding Round: Sean Garlock vs Caleb Brown

Caleb (from Murfreesboro, TN, go Blue Raiders!!!) raises bees with his family on their six acre farm. His brother (Jonah) competed in the 13-14 year old division in a previous episode.

Caleb got off to a quick start.

Sean missed a peg on Ring Toss, allowing Caleb to grow his lead.

He would never lose the lead as Caleb climbed the wall and hit the buzzer.

Seeding Round: Jackson Horwedel vs Enzo Wilson

Enzo is working to keep litter out of the ocean, while Jackson is a champion fencer.

The two were even going into the Ring Toss.

Jackson pulled away on Ring Toss as Enzo got stuck on the 3rd obstacle.

But hesitation from Jackson before Fly Wheels allowed Enzo to catch up.

Enzo passed Jackson on Fly Wheels and made it up the Wall first.

Knockout Round: Enzo Wilson vs Sean Garlock

Sean plays every sport and participates in every activity (Football, basketball, baseball, rock climbing, rugby, band).

These two were even going into Ring Toss.

Enzo took a slight edge on Floating Tiles.

Enzo kept that lead up the Warped Wall, holding off an approaching Sean to advance to the Final Showdown.

During the break…

Knockout Round: Caleb Brown vs Jackson Horwedel

Caleb took the victory after Jackson fell on Fly Wheels.

13-14 year old Division (Ninja Mentor: Kevin Bull)

The course: Archer Steps, Tic Toc, Floating Tiles, Devil Steps, Flying Shelf Grab, 13 foot Warped Wall (no hand holds)

Seeding Round: Aly Larson vs Brady Zingleman

Brady climbs everywhere and on everything. He’s kind of like my cat, so maybe Twig the cat needs American Ninja Warrior.

Brady was more aggressive, giving him an early lead.

But Aly stayed close behind.

Brady’s lead grew as he flew across Floating Steps, but Aly caught up once again.

Unfortunately for Aly, she fell on Flying Shelf Grab.

Brady hit the buzzer and took the victory.

Seeding Round: Eric Ruest vs Gabby Romano

Gabby’s parents are stunt people in the movies. Now, Gabby gets to try out some of the stunts on her own. She’s trained with Jessie Graff as well.

Gabby raced out to the early lead.

But Eric passed her on Devil Steps.

The lead changed once again on Floating Tiles.

Gabby would keep that lead to the Warped Wall.

But neither ninja could make it up the Warped Wall, giving Gabby the win.

Knockout Round: Brady Zingleman vs Eric Ruest

Eric took the victory after Brady fell on Flying Shelf Grab.

Knockout Round: Gabby Romano vs Aly Larson

Aly Larson is an aerial artist (you know those crazy ribbon dancers at the circus). She also does Foot Archery (never seen that before).

Gabby took a slight lead early. She kept that lead all the way to Flying Shelf Grab.

Aly fell here last time, so she took her time with it this time.

Gabby used Aly’s delay to make it to the Wall, an obstacle she completed this time on her first try!!!

Both ninjas made it up the Wall, but Gabby will be moving onto the Final Showdown.

9-10 year old Final Showdown: Reeder Smith vs Logan Staggs

The race started out fast once again, with Logan, just like the last race, taking the early lead.

Logan took his lead into Spin Cycle, but Reeder did an amazing job on the fifth obstacle, flying through each spin with one leap.

The pace forced Logan to push too hard, and he fell on the fifth obstacle.

Reeder hit the buzzer and advanced to the semifinals.

11-12 year old Final Showdown: Enzo Wilson vs Caleb Brown

Caleb took the early lead.

But Enzo stayed close behind.

Caleb made quick work of the Fly Wheel to lead the Final Showdown from start to finish and advance to the semifinals.

13-14 year old Final Showdown: Eric Ruest vs Gabby Romano

In a rematch, Eric has yet to make it up the Warped Wall. Gabby didn’t make it up her first race, but she did her 2nd race.

Abby took the early lead.

Eric closed the gap on Devil Steps, but he lost his balance and fell on Floating Steps.

Gabby made it up the Wall once again and advanced to the semifinals.

Your Semifinalists:

9-10 year old division: Reeder Smith

11-12 year old division: Caleb Brown

13-14 year old division: Gabby Romano

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