TV Recap: S03E15 – American Ninja Warrior Junior 2021 Finals

American Ninja Warrior Junior Season 3 2021, Episode 15 – Finals

We’re down to the final four!!!

And since we’re so close to crowning champions, there are no more second chances.

It’s win or go home this week, folks!!!

The semifinal round features four ninjas per division. The winner of the Semifinal Showdown and the fastest time of the three other ninjas in the division will advance to the Finals.

Ninja Mentors: Jesse Labreck and Najee Richardson

9–10-Year-Old Division

The course: Hopskotch, Lunatic Ledges, Liquid Pipe, Broken Bridge, Flying Saucers, 13 Foot Warped Wall (with two hand holds)

Knockout Round: Brandon Avila vs Liz Polsgrove

On one hand, Liz is 9-0 and the only unbeaten ninja remaining in the division.

But on the other hand, Brandon has the faster time between the two ninjas.

Brandon took a multi-step lead after the first obstacle.

But on Lunatic Ledges, Liz took a single swing and swung herself into the lead.

She kept that lead all the way to Flaying Saucers until Brandon started linking the discs.

And “the Future” took that lead all the way to the Championship Race!!!

Knockout Round: Grace Schneider vs Max Salebra

The fastest boy and girl ninja in the division were tight going into the second obstacle.

But Lunatic Ledges was a separator again as Max left the 2nd obstacle with the lead.

Grace stayed close behind with a decent run through Liquid Pipes.

But Max kept that lead all the way to the Championship Race!!!

9–10-year-old Championship Race: Brandon Avila vs Max Salebra

It’s the Future vs the Cadet Ninja!!!

And it’s matchup #3 between these two, this one for all the marbles (and all the cliches as well)!!!

It was a single leap for the net on Lunatic Ledges for these two as they were dead even.

They stayed even after Liquid Pipes…

it was a near dead heat after Broken Bridge…

and it could not have been any tighter going up the Warped Wall as….

by .6 tenths of a second (and with both ninjas hitting their personal best for the season)…

Max Salebra hit the buzzer and first and claimed the championship!!!

11–12-Year-old Division

The course: Hopscotch, Lunatic Ledges, Spike Crossing, Broken Bridge, Spring Forward, 13-foot Warped Wall (one hand hold)

Knockout Round: Nathaniel Honvou vs Bella Palmer

“Ninja Nutin” won the title in the 9–10-year-old division in Season 2, while the “Wild Ninja” is competing in first Finals after being a competitor in all three seasons of ANW Jr.

Nathanael raced out to the early lead.

He kept that lead until Spike Crossing when Bella’s strong climbing skills were put to good to use.

With Bella ahead going into Spring Forward, she linked the fifth obstacle and kept that lead all the way to the buzzer, where she became the first girl to advance to the Championship Race!!!

Knockout Round: Ryan Cooper vs Charlie Ball

Charlie raced out to the big lead early.

He kept that lead as he worked his way through Spiked Crossing.

Charlie led the race from start to finish all the way to the Championship Race!!!

11–12-year-old Championship Race: Bella Palmer vs Charlie Ball

Charlie has the fastest time in the division so far this season. Can Bella link together the run that takes him down?

It didn’t look that way early as Charlie got off to his usual rapid start.

But Charlie shockingly fell on Lunatic Ledges.

And once she completed the 2nd obstacle….

Bella Palmer claimed the 11-12-year-old Championship!!!!

And Bella is the first girl to take home the title in the history of the show!!!

13–14-year-old Division

The course: Hopscotch, Lunatic Ledges, Sideways, Broken Bridge, Spinball Wizard, 13-foot Warped Wall (no hand holds)

Knockout Round: Taylor Greene vs Jackson Erdos

Taylor is making her second finals appearance, while Jackson is looking to atone for his last race, his only loss of the season so far.

Jackson raced out to the early lead.

But Taylor was just a step behind his pace.

In fact, they were practically even after Sideways.

Then, Jackson fell on Spinball Wizard…

but Taylor slipped off the obstacle right behind him.

Because Jackson reached the fifth obstacle first, he advances to the Championship Race!!!

Knockout Round: Phil Folsom vs Luke Milman

Phil is the man who handle Jackson his first loss, while Luke his finally in the Finals after coming up short in Seasons 1 and 2.

And it’s another tight race off the bat!!!

Both ninjas were about even after two obstacles.

And they were still even until Luke couldn’t keep his momentum forward and fell after his he hit the platform on Sideways.

Phil went ahead and hit the buzzer on his way to the Championship Race!!!

13–14-year-old Championship Race: Jackson Erdos vs Phil Folsom

These two ninja’s fastest times are separated by just .18 seconds.

Once again, we were even after two.

It was on Sideways that Jackson took a big lead after Phil took an extra swing.

Phil’s swings stayed wild on Spinball Wizard in an attempt to catch up….

but Jackson kept his lead all the way up the Warped Wall and hit the buzzer to claim the 13-14-year-old Championship!!!

After the final race, Matt and Akbar announced that Jackson, Phil, and Luke are all headed to American Ninja Warrior, the big show next season!!!

Your Champions!!!

9–10-year-old division: Max Salebra

11–12-year-old division: Bella Palmer

13–14-year-old division: Jackson Erdos

So ends the third edition of American Ninja Warrior Junior. See you next season.

 

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