American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs Ninja – Season 1: Episode 9 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…
Here’s that qualifying format one final time:
-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: Superhero Squad (Jamie Rahn, Rachael Goldstein, Sean Darling-Hammond) vs Wisco Warriors (Drew Knapp, Sara Heesen, Andrew Philibeck)
Race One: Jamie Rahn (Superhero Squad) vs Drew Knapp (Wisco Warriors)
“Captain NBC” [Rahn] and Knapp were running neck and neck going into Tilting Ladders.
But Rahn struggled with the release, allowing Knapp to build an advantage.
Knapp would take the lead all the way up the Warped Wall. Rahn nearly ran him down from behind, but Knapp hit the buzzer first, giving the Warriors the early lead.
Wisco Warriors 1 Superhero Squad 0
Race Two: Rachael Goldstein (Superhero Squad) vs Sara Heesen (Wisco Warriors)
Heesen jumped out to the early lead.
Goldstein looked like she was going to catch up, but she struggled to make the jump on Tilting Ladders.
Both competitors slipped on Floating Tiles but stayed alive.
Heesen was not so fortunate on Flying Monkey Bars as she fell, ending her run.
The door was open for Goldstein if she could complete Flying Monkey Bars, but she fell as well. Because Heesen got to the obstacle first, she picked up the lead and a 2-0 advantage for the Warriors.
Wisco Warriors 2 Superhero Squad 0
Race Three: Sean Darling-Hammond (Superhero Squad) vs Andrew Philibeck (Wisco Warriors)
Philibeck raced out to a big lead.
Darling-Hammond slipped a little on the front end, allowing Philibeck to add to his lead.
Darling-Hammond made a bold move on the Flying Monkey Bars to even the race. The two men raced up the wall neck and neck, but Darling-Hammond slipped before making it to the top.
Philibeck hit the buzzer, sending the Warriors on to the next round.
Wisco Warriors win 3-0!!!
Matchup 2: Tri Hards (Sean Bryan, Rebekah Bonilla, Adam Rayl) vs Hazard Brigade (Mike Bernardo, Grace Sims, Michael Needham)
Race 1: Sean Bryan (Tri Hards) vs Mike Bernardo (Hazard Brigade)
Bernardo had an early lead, but Bryan closed quickly.
Both men stayed neck and neck going into Flying Monkey Bars until Bryan fell trying to keep up with Bernardo’s pace.
Bernardo completed the obstacle and the course to give his team the early lead.
Hazard Brigade 1 Tri Hards 0
Race 2: Rebekah Bonilla (Tri Hards) vs Grace Sims (Hazard Brigade)
Bonilla and Sims were neck and neck going into the Tilting Ladders. Bonilla was able to pass Sims on the Tilting Ladders. But she fell on Flying Monkey Bars.
The door was open for Sims, but she fell on Floating Tiles, giving Bonilla the win.
Hazard Brigade 1 Tri Hards 1
Race 3: Adam Rayl (Tri Hards) vs Michael Needham (Hazard Brigade)
The two men were neck and neck going into the Tilting Ladders.
Needham made a big jump on the fourth obstacle, giving himself the advantage.
Rayl tried to catch up, but Rayl fell on Flying Monkey Bars, giving Needham the win.
Hazard Brigade 2 Tri Hards 1
Relay Race:
Hazard Brigade only needs one relay win to pull off what might be the biggest upset of the first round so far.
Bonilla gave her team the early lead.
Bryan took a page out of Needham’s book and took an early jump on Tilting Ladders to maintain the lead.
Bernardo tried to make a bold move on Flying Monkey Bars, but he fell, keeping the Tri Hards alive in the competition.
Hazard Brigade 2 Tri Hards 2
Final Relay:
Sims started better, but Bonilla still tagged Bryan giving her team the lead.
Bryan ran a carbon copy of the first relay, giving a big lead to Rayl as Bryan made the tag.
And just like the first relay, Bernardo took a chance to try and pass Rayl, but he fell once again. The Tri Hards come from behind and advance.
Tri Hards win 3-2!!!
Next Round Matchup: Wisco Warriors (Drew Knapp, Sara Heesen, Andrew Philibeck) vs Tri Hards (Sean Bryan, Rebekah Bonilla, Adam Rayl)
The Course: Sonic Swing, Tic Toc, Tilting Ladders, Floating Tiles, Flying Monkey Bars, Warped Wall, Salmon Ladder, Rumbling Dice, ZigZag Climb
Race 1: Drew Knapp (Wisco Warriors) vs Sean Bryan (Tri Hards)
Bryan raced out to an early lead.
The early flip on Tilting Ladders pays off again for Bryan as he grew his lead. But Bryan slipped on the last part of Flying Monkey Bars and fell in the water.
Knapp completed the obstacle, giving the Warriors the early lead once again.
Wisco Warriors 1 Tri Hards 0
Race 2: Sara Heesen (Wisco Warriors) vs Rebekah Bonilla (Tri Hards)
Bonilla continued her trend of fast starts, a lead that would only grow as Heesen got hung up on Tilting Ladders.
Heesen fell again on Floating Tiles, but did not fall in the water. Her fall did take the wind out of her.
And because Bonilla fell again on Flying Monkey Bars, Heesen had time to catch her breath before trying to fifth obstacle herself.
Unfortunately, Heesen fell as well, giving Bonilla the win.
Wisco Warriors 1 Tri Hards 1
Race 3: Andrew Philibeck (Wisco Warriors) vs Adam Rayl (Tri Hards)
Both men start fast, but Rayl took the early edge on Tilting Ladders.
But we have another fall. Rayl fell on Flying Monkey Bars and opened the door for Philibeck.
But guess what…Philibeck fell on the same obstacle, giving the Tri Hards the lead going into the relays.
Tri Hards 2 Wisco Warriors 1
Relay Race:
Bonilla stayed true to form racing out to the early lead.
Both ladies had to do Tilting Ladders this time, but the result is the same: Bonilla tagging Sean Bryan with a big lead.
Bryan only added to that lead, but Philibeck pushed hard to make it close.
Rayl hit the ZigZag climb with a lead he’d never relinquish. It was a struggle all night, but the Tri Hards pulled it off advancing to the playoffs!!!
Tri Hards win 3-1!!!
Next week is the Wildcard Round: a second chance for the runners up in the opening round look to qualify for the playoffs. See you then.
Photo Credit: USA Network
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