TV Recap: S01E10 – American Ninja Warrior Junior Kids 2018

American Ninja Warrior JR Kids Season 1 2018 Episode 10

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 Drechsel)

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

Seeding Round: Luke Pate vs Madelyn Madaras

Legendary ninja Sam Sahn is Madelyn’s trainer.

Luke is the “Crimson Ninja” because of obsession with the Alabama Crimson Tide (well, that’s unfortunate). He likes to train with Big Al, Alabama’s mascot, and wants to be a mascot one day.

Madelyn took the early lead, but Matt passed her after the first obstacle.

Both ninjas struggle with Tic Toc. But Luke held onto the net while Madelyn did not.

Luke hit the buzzer and took the win.

Seeding Round: Daisy O’Brien vs James Scott

Daisy is a stage performer who sings and dances (though she says she’s “not the best at it” referring to the dancing)

The two were even through the first obstacle.

A misstep by Daisy on the Tic Toc allowed James to take a lead.

James kept that lead going into Spin Cycle.

Daisy closed the gap significantly on the Spin Cycle and it was a near photo finish atop the Wall, where James hit the buzzer a tenth of a second before Daisy.

During the break…

Knockout Round: Luke Pate vs Daisy O’Brien

Luke won after Daisy fell on the second obstacle.

Knockout Round: James Scott vs Madelyn Madaras

Not only does Madelyn train with Sam Sahn, but he built a ninja course in Madelyn’s backyard. And Madelyn trains with her mom as well.

James raced out to an early lead.

Madelyn survived Tic Toc this time and closed the gap on I-Beam.

The two were even going into Spin Cycle.

But Madelyn got one foot on the mat at Spin Cycle while the other pulled her into the water.

James hit the buzzer and advanced 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: Brycen Tablit vs Kai Beckstrand

The Beckstrand’s are a family of ninjas, with all 7 family members (including mom and dad, who have completed on ANW), participating in ninja training and competitions. Kai also has a rocking Mohawk.

Brycen is nicknamed the Spider Monkey.

Both ninjas came out fast.

Kai had a slight lead going into Ring Toss. But that lead grew as Brycen got stuck there.

Kai would never look back from there as he recorded the fastest time of any in his division on the course so far.

During the break…

Seeding Round: Noah Wilson vs Sienna McEneaney

Sienna slipped on Tic Toc, allowing Noah to complete the course on his own.

Knockout Round: Noah Wilson vs Brycen Tablit

Brycen has an intense workout routine (50 squats a day??? Ouch!!!!)

Brycen worked quickly through the first two obstacles, but Noah stayed right on his tail.

The two were even as they hit Fly Wheels.

Noah finished Fly Wheels first, but Brycen ran past Noah on the top of the Warped Wall and hit the buzzer first.

Knockout Round: Kai Beckstrand vs Sienna McEneaney

Sienna is a cross country runner. It runs in her family, and she’s been running since she was in first grade.

Kai was out quickly just like he was in first race.

Sienna took her time on Tic Toc and completed the 2nd obstacle this time.

But it wasn’t enough as Kai made quick work of the course yet again and moved onto 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: Isabella Wakeham vs Max Feinberg

Isabella is active in helping her hometown of Houston rebuild from Hurricane Harvey.

Isabella took the early lead.

Max took the lead on Devil Steps.

And Max would keep that lead all the way up the Warped Wall.

Both ninjas hit the buzzer and put together times that could put them in the Final Showdown.

Seeding Round: Ann Slivken vs Nathan Nix

Ann regularly donates her hair to locks of love. Meagan Martin did a cut right before her first race.

Nathan fishes six days a week.

Nathan raced out to the early lead.

That lead grew as he flew through Devil Steps.

Nathan would lead from start to finish as he hit the buzzer, took the win, and showed off a six pack I am envious of.

Knockout Round: Max Feinberg vs Ann Slivken

Max calls himself “the Underdog” because everyone always underestimates him. He also hopes ANW Jr. helps him get a girlfriend.

Max took the early lead once again.

That lead only grew as Max skipped steps on Devil Steps.

Ann once again struggled there as Max hit the buzzer and advanced to the Final Showdown.

Knockout Round: Nathan Nix vs Isabella Wakeham

I was excited to hear Nathan was from Nashville. But turns out, it wasn’t my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Instead it was rural Nashville, Georgia. It is there that Nathan shoots videos for his Youtube channel, “Nix Fishing.”

Nathan raced out to an early lead, but Isabella stayed close with him.

The two were even on Flying Shelf Grab.

It was there that Isabella moved quickly through the last shelf to take the lead and hit the buzzer first, setting up a rematch in the Final Showdown.

9-10 year old Final Showdown: Luke Pate vs James Scott

Luke took the early lead, but he fell on the 2nd obstacle.

His back foot slipped costing him momentum and allowing James Scott to advance to the semifinals.

11-12 year old Final Showdown: Brycen Tablit vs Kai Beckstrand

Can Brycen overcome the blazing fast Kai in this rematch?

Brycen kept pace going into ring toss.

But it was the third obstacle that Kai built the lead he would take all the way up the Warped Wall.

Kai might be the favorite going into the semifinals as he stays undefeated.

13-14 year old Final Showdown: Max Feinberg vs Isabella Wakeham

Isabella raced out to the early lead going into Devil Steps.

But once again, Max passed her on the third obstacle.

That lead was small, but Max kept it all the way up the Warped Wall, where he hit the buzzer and advanced to the semifinals.

Your Semifinalists:

9-10 year old division: James Scott

11-12 year old division: Kai Beckstrand

13-14 year old division: Max Feinberg

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