TV Recap: S09E10 – America Ninja Warrior Season 9 Cleveland Ohio Finals

America Ninja Warrior Season 9 Cleveland City Finals

Your Announcers: Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila, and Kristine Leahy

The Course, In Order: Floating Steps, Rolling Log, Razor’s Edge (New Obstacle), Ring Jump, I-Beam Gap (New Obstacle), Warped Wall, Salmon Ladder, The Nail Clipper (New Obstacle), The Clacker, Elevator Climb

  1. Michelle Warnky, 32 year old Gym Owner

The first woman to open a ninja gym was fourth amongst the females in qualifying.

Warnky made it past Ring Jump, the obstacle that took her out in qualifying.

I believe Warnky may have the best opening run of any competitor all season, making it all the way to the Nail Clipper before falling (her farthest run ever).

It will be tough for Warnky to make it to Vegas with LeBreck and Beird in this field. But she sure wasn’t going to make it easy for the other members of last year’s “Fantastic Four.”

After the break, Mike Shuck, Fabio Figueiredo, and Cory Cook all fell early in the course.

  1. Alexi Matousek, 35 year old Surgeon

Of course, the announcers had to mention something about the Surgeon being “really good with his hands.”

Sporting a scrubs uniform, Alexi looked like he was ready to make it past the I-Beam Gap, the obstacle that took him out in qualifying. But Matousek fell a foot short of completing the obstacle.

After the break, Annika Nieshalla and Steve Allen fell early in the course. But number one qualifier Anthony DeFranco made it all the way to the Nail Clapper before falling.

  1. Naeem Mulkey, 37 year old Pharmaceutical Sales Rep

The number 20 qualifier made it to I-Beam Gap again (the exercise that took him out in qualifying).

But this time, the rookie made through and all the way up the Warped Wall.

“Naeem the Dream” made it to the Nail Clipper before falling.

  1. Sean Noel, 21 year old Gym Owner

The number 3 qualifier made a shocking exit, falling off the Rolling Log.

Before the break, Patrick Lavanty, Jonathan Angelilli, and Judas Licciardello all fell on Nail Clipper.

After the break, Tori Clement fell on Rolling Log. Derek Matthews made it up the Warped Wall before falling on the Salmon Ladder.

  1. Jon Alexis Jr., 27 year old Carpenter

The number 16 qualifier stands 6’6 and moved quickly through the first part of the course.

Jon winked at the camera on his way to completing I-Beam Gap, the obstacle that ended his run in qualifying.

But like the rest of the competitors, Alexis fell on the Nail Clipper.

However, Alexis Jr’s quick pace might be enough to qualify him for Vegas.

After the break, Dan Galiczynski, Michael Torres, and Tyler Cravens all fell on the Nail Clipper.

  1. Jamie Rahn, 29 year old Gym Owner

The recently engaged “Captain NBC” moved easily through the first part of the course.

And then, Rahn became the first competitor of the night to get through the Nail Clipper.

Rahn made it all the way to Elevator Climb, climbing all the way to the top and hitting the buzzer.

Jamie Rahn, Course Completed, 8:39.85

  1. Jesse LeBreck, 27 year old Ninja Coach

“Flex LeBreck” made it all the way the ninth obstacle last season.

And “Flex” guaranteed herself a spot in the Vegas before falling on Nail Clipper.

After the break, Samer Delgado and Matthew Ilgenfritz both fell on you know what.

  1. Chris DiGangi, 27 year old Software Developer

“Flex’s” boyfriend fell at the same place she did. But a tearful couple received good news after Chris’s run: he’s qualified for Vegas.

  1. Mark Riberio, 32 year old Fitness Instructor

The number 22 qualifier runs for his sister and two nieces.

“Concrete Tarzan” made it to I-Beam Gap again, the obstacle he fell on in qualifying.

And he was inches away from completing it in the finals. But Riberio’s slipping fingers made him fall just inches short of the platform.

  1. Allyssa Beird, 26 year old Teacher

The start to Beird’s run was a little rough. She nearly stumbled on the first obstacle and drew blood on Rolling Log. Then, she nearly slipped on Ring Jump before finishing the third obstacle.

Beird then became the third woman on the night to beat the wall.

The time Beird needed was 6:42 on Salmon Ladder to advance. She did it in 6:12, eliminating Michelle Waranky and securing her spot in the National Finals before falling on the Nail Clipper.

After the break, Kevin Wang fell early, but Mike Meyers qualified for Vegas.

  1. James McGrath, 30 year old Ninja Coach

“The Beast” had shoulder surgery sometime before the competition, and he was struggling with conditioning during his run.

He had to make it through Nail Clipper to advance. And he came up inches shorts.

The five time national finalist’s season is over.

After the break, Daniel Arnold and Mike Bernardo both fell at Nail Clipper.

  1. Najee Richardson, 26 year old Ninja Coach

Akbar made the prediction during his run that “The Phoenix” would be this season’s “Ninja Warrior.”

Richardson really took his time to between Salmon Ladder and Nail Clipper. But he did make it under  5 minutes and qualified for Vegas.

But like so many others, Najee fell at the Nail Clipper.

  1. Joe Moravsky, 28 year old Meteorologist

The number 2 qualifier is having another baby this year.

And with his wife watching from a phone, “The Weather Man” clinched his spot in Vegas getting to the Nail Clipper in just 4:20.

But Moravsky wasn’t done. He made the Nail Clipper (that evil monstrosity that’s taken down 20 competitors on the night) look easy.

Moravsky approached the Elevator Climb and made it all the way up with the night’s fastest time.

Joe Moravsky, Course Completed, 7:24.10

Your Vegas Qualifiers From Cleveland

  1. Joe Moravsky
  2. Jamie Rahn

Failed on Nail Clipper

  1. Jon Alexis Jr.
  2. Mike Meyers
  3. Judas Licciardello
  4. Michael Torres
  5. Dan Galiczynski
  6. Mike Bernardo
  7. Anthony DeFranco
  8. Chris DiGangi
  9. Matthew Ilgenfritz
  10. Tyler Cravens
  11. Najee Richardson
  12. Samer Delgado
  13. Jesse LaBreck

And your female qualifiers….

  1. Jesse LeBreck (Fell on Nail Clipper)
  2. Alyssa Beird (Fell on Nail Clipper)

Just two weeks of City Finals left!!!  See you next week in Kansas City.

Photo Credit: Eddy Chen/NBC | 2017 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment