Season 11 of American Ninja Warrior kicks off on Wednesday, May 29 on NBC. This past weekend NBC aired the All-Stars event which reminded us of just how impressive these athletes can be. Ninja Warrior should become your go-to weekly summer show for athletic competition. Two years ago, I devised a scoring system to rank the competitors on American Ninja Warrior based on their current and past performance. The scoring system is intended to rank athletes based on their past accomplishments and is not a predictive metric for future success. As we have seen countless times in Ninja Warrior competitions, sometimes even the top athletes can get derailed by a slight mis-step or a slip of the hand.
The scale is based on a maximum total value of 1500 points in a given season. The highest single-season score was Geoff Britten’s 1467.31 points in Season 7 when he completed all 6 courses. Using these point values, I calculated “Ninja Points” scores for each season dating back to Season 5 in 2013, along with the USA vs The World and Ninja All-Stars specials and an ELO ranking system for Team Ninja Warrior/Ninja vs Ninja competition. To come up with the final number of “Ninja Points” for each athlete, I weighted the most recent performances heavier. The current years points are taken at full value then the prior four seasons are weighted at 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% respectively.
My database of athletes contains over 1600 competitors who have taken part in Ninja Warrior events since 2013. For these rankings, I started with the ninjas ranked between 150th and 200 and continued with those between 100th and 150th. Last week I covered half of the Top 100 and now the time has come to unveil the Top 50.
50. Dave Cavanagh
611.7 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 50
Dave is known as the “King of the Walk-Ons” after competing from the Walk-On line in all five of his competitive seasons. He qualified for Vegas for the first time in Season 9 and made it to Stage 2. Last year he cleared the Qualification course for the fourth time in his career. In the Philadelphia City Finals he fell on Spinball Wizard and earned a second straight trip to Vegas where he fell on the Jumping Spider.
49. Brian Burkhardt
646.16 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 100
Instagram: @btburkhardt
Brian qualified for the Vegas Finals for the first time during Season 9 in his second year of ANW competition. His season came to an end on the Jumping Spider. Last season he barely made it through City Qualifiers after falling on the Tuning Forks in Dallas, but made the most of the opportunity to continue by making it all the way to Stage 2 in Vegas where he fell on Wingnut Alley.
48. Geoff Britten
675.55 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 24
Twitter: @ninjageoff
Instagram: @geoffbritten
At the outset of this post, I noted that Geoff Britten has the highest single-season score in my entire database when he became the first American Ninja Warrior in Season 7. As part of his Total Victory in Season 7, he is the only athlete to complete all 6 courses in a season. Geoff followed that Total Victory by completing the City Qualifiers and City Finals courses in Season 8, giving him a record of 8 straight course completions. He did not take part in Season 10 because he worked as a course tester during Season 9 and ANW rules require a 1-year separation, but he announced that he will be returning for Season 11.
47. Sean Darling-Hammond
680.0 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 35
Twitter: @BendItToJustice
Instagram: @thegivingninja
Sean qualified for Vegas as a rookie in Season 7 and fell on the Jumping Spider. After an early fall in Season 8 he had a bounce-back Season 9 when he made it to Stage 2 and fell on Wingnut Alley. Last year, he completed the Qualification course in Minneapolis and made it to the Iron Maiden in the City Finals before being taken out by the Jumping Spider once again in Vegas. He has also competed on Jamie Rahn’s “Super Hero Squad” on Team Ninja Warrior and Ninja vs Ninja.
46. Jeremiah Morgan
685.2 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 37
Jeremiah has been a strong competitor on Ninja Warrior, qualifying for the Vegas Finals four times. The best season of his career came in Season 7 when he made it all the way to Stage 3 and fell on the Ultimate Cliffhanger. He unfortunately had to withdraw in Season 9 due to a nearly fatal accident he suffered before the National Finals. Thankfully, he was able to recover and return to competition in Season 10 where he completed both the Dallas Qualifiers and City Finals courses before falling on the Double Dipper.
45. Neil Craver
687.2 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 40
Twitter: @Crazy_Craver
Instagram: @crazycraver
Neil “Crazy” Craver did not compete on Season 9 due to a shoulder injury and is a fan-favorite known for his intense training with fire and flaming objects. He reached Stage 2 in his last two competitive seasons, falling on the Double Salmon Ladder in Season 7 and on the Wave Runner in Season 8. Neil returned in Season 10 and completed the Miami Qualification course only to be one of many top ninjas taken out by the Double Dipper in Vegas.
44. Mike Bernardo
717.8 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 25
Twitter: @FallRisk911
Instagram: @911fallrisk
“Machine Gun Mike” has competed since Season 2 and is known for his prowess on the Salmon Ladder. He made three straight trips to the Vegas Finals between Season 7 and Season 9, reaching Stage 2 twice. Last year he got off to a strong start by completing the Philadelphia City Qualifiers course but had a surprising early fall on the Wingnuts in the City Finals. Season 10 was the first time since Season 6 that he did not qualify for the National Finals.
43. Barclay Stockett
720.2 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 75
Twitter: @BarclayStockett
Instagram: @sparklyninja
Last season Barclay made her second appearance in the Vegas Finals. In Season 9 she made history, becoming the shortest competitor to complete the Jumping Spider and the Warped Wall. She eventually timed out before being able to attempt the final obstacle. Last season she was the top female competitor in the Dallas City Finals, falling on the Nail Clipper, and the only one to make it past the 5th obstacle Crank It Up. Barclay’s second attempt at Stage 1 came to an end on Jeep Run. She was able to get revenge during USA vs The World when she completed Stage 1, hitting her first buzzer in Ninja Warrior competition.
42. Andrew Lowes
724.04 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 22
Twitter: @AKLowes
Instagram: @aklowes
Andrew has been competing since Season 4. He reached Vegas and fell on Stage 1 in Seasons 4, 5 and 8. In Season 6 he conquered Stage 1 and fell on the 5th obstacle of Stage 2. He repeated the feat in Season 9, returning to Stage 2 but falling on the penultimate obstacle, Wingnut Alley. Last season Andrew missed out on the National Finals after slipping up on the Broken Bridge in the City Finals, marking just the second time in his career he did not qualify for Vegas.
41. Dan Polizzi
732.91 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 66
Twitter: @izzi_polizzi, @Towers_of_Power
Instagram: @towerofpower_polizzi
Dan is one of the “Towers of Power,” along with fellow firefighter Brandon Mears. Dan has competed since Season 5 on American Ninja Warrior and continued his streak of strong performances in even-numbered seasons. He previously reached the Vegas Finals in Season 6 and Season 8 did not conquer Stage 1. Last season he completed the Indianapolis qualifying course and made it to the final obstacle in the City Finals but couldn’t reach the summit of the Spider Trap. He completed Stage 1 for the first time and made it to Deja Vu on Stage 2. Dan has yet to qualify for the Vegas Finals in an odd-numbered season.
40. Mike Meyers
763.06 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 55
Twitter: @MikeMeyersANW
Instagram: @mike.meyers.anw
Mike reached Stage 2 in Vegas as a rookie in Season 7 but had a surprising early fall in Season 8. He returned to Vegas in Season 9 but couldn’t get past the Double Dipper on Stage 1. Last year he put together another strong season, completing the Minneapolis Qualifying course and Stage 1 in Vegas. Mike’s return to Stage 2 came to an end on Deja Vu.
39. Tyler Yamauchi
765.46 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 30
Twitter: @NinjaYamaPT
Instagram: @ninjayamapt
Tyler is in his fifth year of ANW competition and is tied with Jonathan Horton as the shortest male competitor to conquer the 14’6? Warped Wall. Tyler is only 5’1? but he has been a very successful Ninja, reaching Stage 2 in Season 9 and falling on Wingnut Alley. He has made 3 trips to the Vegas Finals and reached the 9th obstacle of the City Finals each of the last two seasons. He was not able to get back to Stage 2 last year as his run came to an end on the Double Dipper.
38. Nick Hanson
795.07 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 33
Twitter: @EskimoNinjaUNK
Instagram: @eskimoninja
The Eskimo Ninja hails from Unalakleet, Alaska and is known for his training videos where he does obstacles in sub-zero temperatures. Nick has been on the ninja circuit since Season 7 and will be making his third straight appearance in the Vegas Finals. In Season 8 he completed the Flying Squirrel but the buzzer sounded as he reached the top of the cargo net before he could hit the buzzer. He completed Stage 1 in Season 9 and fell on the Criss-Cross Salmon Ladder. Last year he earned $10,000 by scaling the Mega Wall in the Los Angeles City Qualifiers and fell on the 9th obstacle, the Baton Pass, in the City Finals. Unfortunately, Season 10 was a repeat of Season 8 in Vegas for Nick as he timed out while climbing the Cargo Net.
37. Tyler Gillett
821.13 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 47
Twitter: @TylerCGillett
Instagram: @tylercgillett
Tyler was one of the top rookies in Season 9, completing Stage 1 and making it to the Wave Runner on Stage 2. Tyler continued his success in his sophomore campaign, completing the Minneapolis Qualifying course then falling on the Iron Maiden in the City Finals. He had a repeat performance in Vegas, conquering Stage 1 and falling on Stage 2’s third obstacle – Deja Vu. Tough Tyler is only in his third year competing, he has been a Ninja Warrior fan for a long time and has been posting videos online of himself doing obstacle courses since he was 14 years old.
36. Brent Steffensen
851.23 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 29
Twitter: @BrentSteffensen
Instagram: @brentsteffenson
Steffensen has competed in Ninja Warrior since Season 2. He was the Last Man Standing in Season 4 when he reached Stage 3. Since then, he has fared the best in odd-numbered seasons, reaching Stage 2 in Seasons 5, 7, and 9. He fell on the Wave Runner in Season 9. Last season Brent barely made it through the Dallas Qualifiers, slipping on the Tuning Forks. He was able to qualify for Vegas for the 6th time in his career but timed out when climbing the cargo net at the end of Stage 1.
35. Hunter Guerard
863.17 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 28
Instagram: @_thelizard_
“The Lizard” was one of the top rookies in Season 9, making it all the way to Wingnut Alley on Stage 2. Last season, he fell on the penultimate obstacles in the Minneapolis City Qualifiers and City Finals. Hunter completed Stage 1 for the second straight season but splashed down on Deja Vu. His team the Lizard Kings had an impressive run on Ninja Vs Ninja.
34. David Campbell
869.02 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 21
Twitter: @NinjaGodfather
Instagram: @ninjagodfather
The Godfather has taken part in every season of American Ninja Warrior. He qualified for Vegas but fell on Stage 1 in Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7. He barely missed qualifying in Season 8 but came back stronger than ever in Season 9. David completed Stage 1 and made it to Wingnut Alley in Stage 2. Season 10 was been one of his best yet. He completed both the Los Angeles City Qualifiers and City Finals courses but was derailed in Vegas by the Double Dipper.
33. Ethan Swanson
871.03 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 64
Twitter: @EthanSwanson
Instagram: @ethanswanson
“The Swan” is in his 6th year of competition. He is also known as “The Daredevil” for his stunts on buildings and bridges around Chicago. His best year was in Season 8 when he made it all the way to Stage 2 in Vegas. He came up short in Season 9, one of the “Windy City Warriors” to be taken out by the Broken Pipes in the City Finals. His fall on the Spin Hopper in the Indianapolis Qualifiers last year was the first time he failed to complete a City Qualifiers course. He made up for it in the City Finals by punching his ticket back to Vegas and hitting the first City Finals buzzer of his career. His strong season continued when he completed Stage 1 and made it all the way to Wingnut Alley on Stage 2.
32. Grant McCartney
880.5 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 31
Twitter: @islandninja
Instagram: @islandninja
The “Island Ninja,” a flight attendant hailing from Hawaii, and known for his dance moves after hitting the buzzer. McCartney posted the fastest time of the night in the Los Angeles Qualifiers in Season 9, but shockingly fell in the City Finals on the Salmon Ladder. This was the third straight season a Salmon Ladder obstacle knocked him out as he fell on the Double Salmon Ladder and Down-Up Salmon Ladder on Stage 2 the prior two seasons. Last year, Grant was a victim of location. He made it to the 9th obstacle in the LA City Finals, but did not qualify for Vegas because he did not make it there fast enough. Ninjas from other cities like Philadelphia only had to get past the 4th obstacle in the City Finals to make it to Vegas.
31. Mathis Owhadi
857.15 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: unranked (rookie)
Instagram: @mathis_thekid
Mathis “The Kid” Owhadi exploded onto the Ninja scene last year as a 19-year-old. In Ninja vs Ninja he was a member of Daniel Gil’s team “Iron Grip.” He had impressive head-to-head wins over ninja superstars Grant McCartney and JJ Woods. The younger age limit in ANW this year gave him the opportunity to compete and he made the most of it, completing both the Dallas City Qualifiers and City Finals courses. In Vegas he completed Stage 1 and made it to the penultimate obstacle of Stage 2, Wingnut Alley.
30. JJ Woods
890.15 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 17
Twitter: @jjwoods87
Instagram: @jjwoods87
JJ rebounded from a shocking early fall in the Season 8 City Qualifiers to qualify for Vegas in Season 9 for the fourth time. He has reached Stage 2 in each of his last three trips to Vegas in Seasons 6, 7, and 9. Woods fell on Wingnut Alley in Season 9. Much like Season 8, JJ’s run in Season 10 came to a short end when he fell on the Razor’s Edge in Miami.
29. Eric Middleton
918.23 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 36
Instagram: @dungbeetlestrong
Eric is a student at the University of Minnesota who has an affinity for insects. Memorably, he bet announcers Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila that they would eat a deep-fried tarantula if he completed the Minnesota Qualification course. Eric held up his end of the deal. Matt and Akbar followed through as well, with both making hilariously disgusted faces as they bit into the spider. Eric has been a very successful ninja in his three seasons. He has reached Vegas in each of the last three seasons, timing out on the Flying Squirrel in Season 8 then conquering Stage 1 and falling on the Wave Runner in Season 9. Last season he once again completed Stage 1 and fell on Deja Vu on Stage 2.
28. Josh Salinas
975.52 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 42
Instagram: @ironninjajosh
Josh was one of the top rookies of Season 9, completing the San Antonio Qualification course and Stage 1 in Vegas. On Stage 2, he was one of many ninjas to fall victim to Wingnut Alley. Last year, he repeated the feat of completing the Qualifying course in Dallas and took it one step farther by conquering the City Finals course as well. In Vegas he made it back to Wingnut Alley but once again saw his season come to an end on Stage 2’s penultimate obstacle.
27. Drew Knapp
975.97 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 38
Twitter: @MacDrewber14
Instagram: @cantstopknapp
Drew had an emotional Season 9, competing with his younger brother Dalton who had recently overcome cancer. Drew qualified for Vegas and completed Stage 1, making it all the way to Wingnut Alley on Stage 2. Last year, he fell in a City Qualifying course for the first time ever, but was good enough to make the Minneapolis City Finals. He made it to the Iron Maiden and qualified for Vegas for the second straight season. Drew repeated his performance in Vegas, conquering Stage 1 but coming up short on Wingnut Alley.
26. Isaac Caldiero
989.24 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 10
Twitter: @IsaacCaldiero
Instagram: @isaaccaldiero
Isaac was the first competitor to win American Ninja Warrior. In Season 7, both he and Geoff Britten achieved Total Victory and summited Mount Midoryama. Isaac completed the climb in a faster time and was crowned as the Champion of Season 7. He repeated his feat of completing Stage 3 during the Team USA vs the World after that season. Following his Total Victory, he took two seasons off from competition but returned in Season 10. Last year he showed his ninja prowess was still there as he completed the Indianapolis Qualifying course. However, he slipped up on Block Run in the City Finals, ending his comeback run. Ninja Warrior has never had more star power, with both Total Victors Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero competing this season.
25. Abel Gonzalez
995.79 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 13
Twitter: @WeAreAllAbel
Instagram: @weareallabel
Abel started as a walk-on in Season 6 and made it all the way to Stage 2. He followed that up with a brilliant Season 7 where he made it all the way to Stage 3 and fell on the Ultimate Cliffhanger. An early fall ended his run in the 8th season but he came back strong in Season 9, making it to Stage 2 once more and falling on Wingnut Alley. Season 10 saw Abel make his fourth trip to Vegas but fall for the first time on Stage 1, being derailed by the Double Dipper.
24. Ryan Stratis
1010.56 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 18
Twitter: @Straticus
Instagram: @ryan_strat
“Straticus” has competed on every season of American Ninja Warrior and is known for his beard and fist pumps. Last season, he has a friendly competition with Brett Sims to see who will make it the farthest and the loser has to shave his beard. Both Brett and Ryan completed both the Miami Qualification and City Finals courses. In his 6th appearance in the Vegas Finals, Ryan made it farther than Brett and saved his beard, but did not complete Stage 1, falling on Jeep Run. Previously, he had reached Stage 2 three times.
23. Meagan Martin
1012.7 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 45
Twitter: @MeaganMartin89
Instagram: @meaganmartin89
Meagan has been one of the top female competitors on American Ninja Warrior for quite some time. She burst onto the scene in Season 6 when she became the third woman ever to conquer the Warped Wall. She repeated the feat in Seasons 7 and 8 as well. Meagan has made five straight appearance in the Vegas Finals. In Season 9, she conquered the Vegas Warped Wall for the first time in her career but timed out shortly after. Last season she once again fell on Stage 1, falling on the Jumping Spider. Meagan also has been a noteworthy competitor in team competitions. She was undefeated in head-to-head races until she lost to Jesse LaBreck in the finals of Ninja vs Ninja.
22. Karson Voiles
1083.33 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 28
Twitter: @ninja_warehouse
Instagram: @karsonvoiles
Karson has competed since Season 5 and has reached the Vegas Finals four times. He has reached Stage 2 in his three prior appearances in Vegas in Seasons 7, 9, and 10. All three times he fell on the penultimate obstacle, Roulette Row in Season 7 and Wingnut Alley in Seasons 9 and 10.
21. Travis Rosen
1100.48 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 9
Twitter: @TravRosen
Instagram: @travrosen
Travis has been competing since Season 2 and reached the Vegas Finals each of the last 7 seasons. His best year came in Season 5 when he reached Stage 3, falling on the Floating Boards. Before last season, Travis had only fallen on Stage 1 once, a slip on Snake Run in Season 8. He rebounded from that fall to get back to Stage 2 last year, falling on Wingnut Alley. Since the current format of American Ninja Warrior competition was adopted, Travis has never fallen on a City Qualifiers course. He is also the first American to complete the rope climb on Stage 4 when he did it as part of the USA vs The World event in 2014. Travis had one of the worst falls of Season 10 when he slipped off the Double Dipper and broke his ankle when his foot jammed into the landing pad.
20. Adam Rayl
1121.27 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 19
Twitter: @RealAdamRayl
Instagram: @adamrayl
Adam is a concrete worker from Arizona with insane grip strength. He reached Stage 2 in all three of his seasons competing on American Ninja Warrior. Like so many others he fell on Wingnut Alley in Season 9 after being one of just 9 competitors to complete a City Finals course. Last season he was one of six competitors to scale the Mega Wall in City Qualifying. He completed the LA City Finals course for the second straight year and conquered Stage 1 for the third time. His run came to an end on the Criss Cross Salmon Ladder when the bar got uneven and he couldn’t make the correction.
19. Jon Alexis Jr
1145.12 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 26
Twitter: @J0NtheGiant
Instagram: @j0nthegiant
Jon is one of the tallest ninjas at 6’6? and gained notoriety by putting together dominant performances as part of Labreckfast Club on Ninja vs Ninja. After a slip-up in the Minneapolis City Qualifiers he completed the City Finals course with the fastest time of the night. Last year was his third straight season reaching the Vegas Finals. He fell on the Flying Squirrel in Season 8 but came back to complete Stage 1 in Season 9 when he made it all the way to the Wingnuts on Stage 2. Season 10 came to an end much like Season 8 when Jon fell on the Twist and Fly, unable to make the transition to the cargo net.
18. Chris Wilczewski
1180.03 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 39
Instagram: @chriswilczewski
Chris has competed since Season 2 and had an excellent year after taking Season 9 off due to a near-death experience where he almost drowned in Lake Michigan. In the Philadelphia City Qualifiers he finished with the fastest time of the night AND won $10,000 by scaling the Mega Wall. He kept up his speed in the City Finals and once again completed the course with the fastest time of the night. Chris made his fourth trip to Vegas where he once again completed Stage 1 (as he had in every prior appearance). He has yet to conquer Stage 2, though last season he came the closest yet, falling on Wingnut Alley.
17. Kevin Bull
1242.78 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 11
Twitter: @kevin_the_bull
Instagram: @kevin_the_bull
Kevin was another walk-on who had one of the most memorable moments in ANW history. In Season 6 as a rookie he was the first ninja to beat Cannonball Alley by grabbing the third ball between his knees and swinging upside down to the landing pad. Since then, Kevin has used his platform as a well-known ninja to build awareness for alopecia. His best year came in Season 7 when he made it to Stage 3 and fell on the Ultimate Cliffhanger. He has reached the Vegas Finals in five straight seasons. After reaching Wingnut Alley in Season 9, he continued a trend of failing Stage 1 in even-numbered seasons (as he did in Seasons 6 and 8), falling on the transition to the cargo net off the Twist and Fly.
16. Thomas Stillings
1244.34 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 14
Twitter: @SaCrewStillings
Instagram: @genieninja
Thomas burst onto the scene in Season 7 when he made it to Stage 2 as a rookie. He repeated that success in the following two seasons, falling on the Down-Up Salmon Ladder in Season 8 and Wingnut Alley in Season 9. Thomas completed the Dallas Qualification course last year but fell on the new Fallout obstacle. For the fourth straight season he completed Stage 1 but once again could not conquer Stage 2, falling on Deja Vu. According to his Instagram page, Thomas was shockingly not selected to compete this season.
15. Nicholas Coolridge
1280 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 20
Twitter:
Instagram: @moderntarzan
The acrobat made his debut in Season 7 where he was the only finisher in the Venice City Finals course. He has qualified for Vegas in all four of his seasons and has made it to Stage 2 each of the last three years. He continued to have success in the competition last, completing both the Los Angeles Qualifiers and City Finals courses. Nicholas completed Stage 1 once again but for the second straight year fell on the Criss-Cross Salmon Ladder on Stage 2.
14. Jake Murray
1294.1 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 23
Twitter: @amurraycan
Instagram: @jake.murray
Jake is a fun-loving competitor who has pulled some crazy stuff on the course, such as doing a canonball into the water after completing Stage 1 as a rookie in Season 7 and biting into a corn dog after repeating his Stage 1 success in Season 8. After a shocking early fall in Season 9, Jake had a bounce-back year in Season 10, completing both the Minneapolis Qualification and City Finals courses. In his three trips to the Vegas Finals, he has cleared Stage 1 every time. Last season he put up the fastest time on Stage 1 but fell on the first obstacle of Stage 2, the Epic Catch and Release.
13. Jessie Graff
1303.46 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 16
Twitter: @JESSIEgraffPWR
Instagram: @jessiegraffpwr
Wonder Woman is real and her name is Jessie Graff. Jessie made history in Season 8 when she became the first woman to complete Stage 1 in Vegas. She topped that performance in the USA vs The World special when she became the first woman to complete Stage 2. In Season 9, she was one of just 4 competitors in the Daytona City Finals to reach the final obstacle, the Elevator Climb. She was poised to defeat Stage 1 again but came up just short on the Flying Squirrel when her jump to the cargo net came up short and she fell into the water. Last season she completed the Miami City Qualifiers course and fell on the Stair Hopper (which also knocked out Drew Drechsel) in the City Finals. She qualified for Vegas but withdrew from the competition because she was doing stunt work for the Wonder Woman 1984 film.
12. Lance Pekus
1379.6 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 27
Twitter: @lancepekus
Instagram: @lancepekus
The Cowboy Ninja has reached the Vegas Finals in five of his six seasons. He fell on the Jumping Spider in Seasons 5 and 6. He finally got through the Jumping Spider in Season 7, making it all the way to the penultimate obstacle of Stage 2 Roulette Row. Lance returned to Vegas in Season 9 and once again cruised through Stage 1 but fell on Wingnut Alley, the next-to-last obstacle of Stage 2. Last season he completed the Minneapolis Qualification course but fell on the Iron Maiden in the City Finals. His fifth trip to Vegas came to a surprising early end when he fell on the Propeller Bar.
11. Flip Rodriguez
1478.78 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 12
Instagram: @youngflip7
Flip started in freerunning and parkour, which he has turned into a career as a stuntman. His ninja skills were initially strongest in agility and explosion but since his debut in Season 3 his climbing and grip strength skills have improved. He has qualified for the Vegas Finals 6 times and he has reached Stage 2 five times. In both Season 7 and Season 9 he did what he needed to do to get through Roulette Row and Wingnut Alley but fell on the dismount to the landing pad. Last year he had a surprising fall in the LA Qualification course but came back to complete the City Finals. He had the unfortunate luck of being the first runner after Travis Rosen suffered a broken ankle to attempt the Double Dipper. Flip took a few extra moments at the beginning of the obstacle and seemed a bit psyched out, which may have been the cause of his fall.
10. Ian Dory
1479.4 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 8
Twitter: @IanDory
Instagram: @iandory
Ian is one of the original “Wolfpack Ninjas.” The Wolfpack Ninjas have accounted for a number of success stories, including Isaac Caldiero, the first winner of American Ninja Warrior. Ian has been an incredibly strong competitor in his own regard. He has completed every City Finals course he has attempted, including last year in Minneapolis. His best year came in Season 7 when he reached the final obstacle of Stage 3 the Flying Bar. He made it to the fourth of five jumps but his grip gave out. Last year he fell on the Jumping Spider, just the second time in 5 seasons he did not complete Stage 1.
9. Jesse LaBreck
1605.3 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 56
Twitter: @flexlabreck
Instagram: @flexlabreck
Jesse “Flex” Labreck is entering her fourth season of competition and has qualified for Vegas all 3 seasons. She has yet to complete Stage 1 during regular competition, coming up just short on the final obstacle each of the last two years. Jesse completed a City Qualifying course each of the last two seasons. In the Indianapolis City Finals, she became the first woman to get past the Clacker but fell on Cane Lane. She carried her team, “Labreckfast Club” to the Ninja Vs Ninja Championship. That title run included a notable head-to-head victory over fellow undefeated racer Meagan Martin and anchoring her team’s relay run in the final. Jesse also completed Stage 2 in the 2018 USA vs The World event.
8. Josh Levin
1616.76 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 8
Twitter: @JoshLevin1
Instagram: @josh.levin
Josh is a competitive rock climber who has been involved in speed climbing events since he was a kid. He made it the farthest of any rookie in Season 8, reaching the penultimate obstacle on Stage 2. In the 2017 USA vs The World event, Josh completed Stage 3. He has completed the City Qualifiers, City Finals, and Stage 1 courses in all three seasons he has competed. Last season he once again made it to the next-to-last obstacle of Stage 2 but couldn’t get past Wingnut Alley. With the addition of Rock Climbing as an Olympic Sport for the 2020 Summer Games, Josh is continuing to pursue his speed climbing background in the hopes of making the Olympic team.
7. Brian Arnold
1617.38 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 4
Twitter:@BrianArnold_ANW
Instagram: @brian_arnold_ninja
Brian has been a stalwart of American Ninja Warrior and a model of consistency and success. He is another of the “Wolfpack Ninjas” and was the Last Man Standing in Season 5 when he made it all the way to the Flying Bar on Stage 3. Brian became the first American to conquer Stage 3 during the USA vs The World special in 2014. He has made 7 consecutive appearance in the Vegas Finals. For three straight seasons from Season 7-9, Brian has reached the penultimate obstacle of Stage 2 but has been unable to get past Roulette Row, the Double Wedge, or Wingnut Alley. Last year he fell on Stage 1 for the first time in his career, unable to make the transition from the Twist and Fly to the cargo net.
6. Jamie Rahn
1995.1 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 15
Twitter: @CaptainNBC
Instagram: @jamierahn
“Captain NBC” has been competing since Season 2. He is known for wearing a superhero outfit and donning bright green wigs. Jamie has made six straight appearances in the Vegas Finals. He has reached Stage 2 in the odd-numbered seasons (5, 7 and 9) but fallen on Stage 1 in the even-numbered years (Seasons 6 and 8). In Seasons 7 and 9 he reached the penultimate obstacle of Stage 2, falling on Roulette Row and Wingnut Alley respectively. Jamie hit 3 buzzers last year, completing the Philadelphia Qualifiers and City Finals courses along with Stage 1. Last year he had one of the most memorable runs of the Vegas Finals, losing his shoe while leaping to the Propeller Bar and going on to complete the rest of Stage 1 in bare feet. His season came to an end like so many others on the ninja-killer Wingnut Alley.
5. Sean Bryan
1997.8 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 7
Twitter: @PapalNinja
Instagram: @papalninja
“The Papal Ninja” was one of just three athletes to complete Stage 2 in Season 9 and one of just 2 to do it in Season 10. Sean is the only ninja to complete Stage 2 in each of the last two seasons. He fell on the Ultimate Cliffhanger on Stage 3 both times. Sean also completed the City Qualifiers and City Finals courses in each of the last two seasons. On the 2017 USA vs The World special, Sean completed the Stage 4 climb, making him the fourth American to do so. Though he was not the “Last Man Standing” in Season 10, he arguably had the best season of any competitor as he was the only person to complete four courses (Drew Drechsel fell in the City Finals).
4. Daniel Gil
2042.1 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 3
Twitter: @KingdomNinja_
Instagram: @kingdom_ninja
Daniel has been one of the top ninjas since his rookie year in Season 7. He started as a trainer in Sam Sann’s gym and that experience has paid off. He has routinely put up one of the fastest times of the night on nearly every course he has taken on. As a rookie he completed Stage 1 and made it to Roulette Row on Stage 2. In Season 8, he completed both the Oklahoma City Qualifying and City Finals courses along with Stages 1 and 2 in Vegas. His only appearance on Stage 3 ended on the Ultimate Cliffhanger. In Season 9 he once again garnered two buzzers in San Antonio and completed Stage 1 again. On Stage 2, he was another victim of Wingnut Alley as he failed to reach the landing pad. Season 10 once again saw Daniel conquer the Houston Qualifying and City Finals courses, capping an emotional qualifier off by scaling the Mega Wall and winning $10,000 in his hometown. In Vegas he completed Stage 1 for the fourth straight season but fell on Deja Vu on Stage 2.
3. Najee Richardson
2223.7 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 5
Twitter: @NajeeRichardson
Instagram: @the.flying.phoenix
“The Phoenix” Najee Richardson is a former gymnast who suffered a career-ending injury and reinvented himself as a ninja superstar. Najee burst onto the scene when he reached Stage 2 in Season 8. In Season 9 he was one of just 3 ninjas last year to complete Stage 2, making it to the Ultimate Cliffhanger on Stage 3. He continued his run of success last year, winning $10,000 by conquering the Mega Wall in the Philadelphia City Qualifiers then finishing the City Finals course as well. Najee once again completed Stage 1 but ran out of time on the final obstacle of Stage 2 which involved swimming underwater. He got his revenge on the water obstacle and completed Stage 2 during the USA vs The World event. Najee has been a mainstay in almost every ninja competition, taking part in team competition as the captain of Phoenix Force and having epic battles with Drew Drechsel in ANW All-Stars events.
2. Joe Moravsky
2610.05 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 2
Twitter: @JoeMoravsky
Instagram: @joemoravsky
“The Weatherman” Joe Moravsky has been the most consistent ninja in the competition. From his rookie year in Season 5 up through Season 8 he did not fall anywhere other than on Stage 3 in Vegas. In Season 8 he gassed out in the City Finals on the Invisible Ladder and later fell on Stage 2 in Vegas. He came back and dominated Season 9, reaching Stage 3 once again and finishing as the Last Man Standing (for the second time in his career). Before last year, Joe had completed Stage 1 in all 5 of his seasons and conquered Stage 2 in all but one of those years. Joe also captained “Storm Team” which featured Josh Levin and Allyssa Beird that won the Team Ninja Warrior Season 2 competition. Last season Joe got off to another strong start with the fastest time of the night in City Qualifiers and completing the City Finals course. However, as proof of how a slight mistake can derail even the best ninjas, Joe shockingly fell on the Double Dipper on Stage 1. He has shown a great positive attitude and looks poised to bounce back this season.
1. Drew Drechsel
3771.4 Ninja Points
2018 Rank: 1
Twitter: @RealLifeNinja_
Instagram: @reallifeninja
The “Real Life Ninja” remains at the top of the power rankings after he was the Last Man Standing in Season 10. He has competed on American Ninja Warrior since Season 4 as well as on Sasuke in Japan. Drew has made it to the Vegas Finals in six seasons and has beaten Stage 1 every time. He fell on the Hang Climb on Stage 3 in both Season 7 and Season 8. On the 2017 edition of USA vs the World, Drew memorably put in headphones before his run and completed Stage 3. Incredibly, Drew has reached Stage 3 in three of the last four seasons, including last year when he fell on the Ultimate Cliffhanger. He got redemption on the Ultimate Cliffhanger in the USA vs the World special and made it all the way to Cane Lane, which was enough to secure a spot in the finals for Team USA. In the finals, Drew completed the Stage 4 rope climb and won the title for the USA.
1 comment
Drew got caught.