Only 24 of the 100 competitors who advanced to the national finals of American Ninja Warrior 4 in Las Vegas completed Stage 1 and advanced to Stage 2. Derek Nakamoto killed it with the fastest time of 1:34.4. Tune in on Monday night July 23rd on NBC for the 2-hour season finale that shows these brave souls take their crack at Stage 2 and beyond, and find out if any of them became the first American Ninja Warrior!
Order #, Finalist, Time 1 Derek Nakamoto – 1:34.40 2 Lorin Ball – 1:37.22 3 Brent Steffensen – 1:41.00 4 Danny Johnson – 1:42.31 5 Kole Stevens – 1:42.33 6 Paul Darnell – 1:44.98 7 Elet Hall – 1:46.00 8 Drew Drecshel – 1:46.08 9 Ben Snead – 1:47.02 10 Ahmed Toure – 1:47.56 11 Paul Kasemir – 1:48.29 12 Remi Bakkar – 1:50.98 13 Travis Rosen – 1:51.00 14 James McGrath – 1:51.61 15 David “Flip” Rodriguez – 1:51.66 16 Brandon Douglass – 1:53.18 17 Sean Noble – 1:53.20 18 J.B. Douglas – 1:57.50 19 Brian Arnold – 1:58.16 20 Evan “Rocket” Dollard – 1:59.57 21 Chris Wilczewski – 2:01.26 22 Will Dodd – 2:02.23 23 Josh Lobeck – 2:06.08 24 Nathaniel Spencer – 2:10.00
New trick…the 8 foot Jumping Bars! In the actual American Ninja Warrior competition the gap is only 6 feet, which is pretty easy once you’ve practiced it once or twice, but I’d previously never had a chance to try a longer distance and wanted to test myself. Who knows? They may widen the gap of the Jumping Bars in competition and knowing you can go farther than the standard 6 feet would really help with the confidence. So while at Chris Wilczewski’s gym The Warrior Lab in New Jersey I had the chance to try a Jumping Bar with an 8 feet gap, so I had to give it a shot. Fun!
No doubt my form can improve…a bigger swing and launch would mean I don’t have to be so stretched out for the catch, but I was pleased to get it all the same.
Here is a list of the 90 national finalists in American Ninja Warrior 4 who advanced to Las Vegas to compete on the Mt. Midoriyama replica uber-course that was built there. There will be 10 wildcards added to these 90 competitors to make an even 100 runners, which is the traditional number that competed in the original Ninja Warrior Japan (Sasuke) for many years. The identity of these wildcards will be revealed when the show airs.
15 finalists from each of the 6 regions (listed below in order of finish) fought their way through their respective regional rounds and then the regional finals to advance to the first finals of American Ninja Warrior held in the US. Mad props to all these competitors, and hit LIKE to applaud them and share this list to spread the word of their awesomeness!
Southwest Evan Dollard Jesse La Flair Kole Stevens Remi Bakkar Brent Steffenson Chad Simpson Derek Nakamoto Dorian Cedars Dan Mast Paul Darnell Sedderick Bassett Ryan Thompson Dylan Curry Ronnie Shalvis Jr Michael “Frosti” Zernow
Midwest Matthew Derouen Andrew Karsen Jack Morgan Stephen Volcko Arthur Skov Michael Silenzi Nick ‘Lovin’ Stephforn Johnathan Morin Scott Robinson Will Dodd Joshua Grant Andrew Lowes Nate Aye Nick Kostner Cade Halada
Northeast Tim Shieff Luis Moco Dan Galiczynski Chris Wilczewski Elet Hall Travis Graves Jesse Villareal Christopher DiGangi Andrew Wood Danny Johnson Bradley Smith Jr. Phillip Pirollo John Sapinoso Matt Mings Michael Pericoloso
Northwest James McGrath Travis Furlanic David Campbell Sean Noble Kyle Cochrane Justin Sweeney Josh Horsley Nathan Sausedo Justin Walcker J.B. Douglas Kevan Reoli Ben Snead Brian Kretsch Gunner Bahn Patrick McGrath
Midsouth Paul Kasemir Brandon Douglass Brian Arnold Jaret Salas Kevin Klein Sat Khalsa Ahmed Toure Josh Lobeck Lorin Ball Jake Smith Bob Pondrom Nathaniel Spencer James Wyatt Tremayne Dortch Alan Connealy
Southeast David “Flip” Rodriguez Drew Dreschel Travis Rosen Jared “J.J.” Woods Michael Ekhert Bull Bullard Sean Morris William Brown Thomas Hall Brendan Kelly Andy Taylor Adam Grossman Niko Bogucki Tony Reddick Paul O’Connor
Better late than never…too much work this past week to be dutiful getting this out! The Northeast region is on deck tonight of G4 for the opening round and then on NBC for Monday night for the regional finals. There are a lot of studs in the Northeast region, and I’m really looking forward to watching them throw down tonight and tomorrow night on the tube.
The Northeast region took place in Miami, and below is a non-comprehensive list of some of the cast of characters you’re likely to see. Forgive me for overlooking some folks…I don’t always know what region competitors are running in, and of course I don’t know everybody, but these are some of the competitors that I have on my radar screen for Northeast:
Tim “Livewire” Shieff – Worldwide parkour champ from 2009, professional free-runner/stuntmen, the guy is a living legend in the parkour/free-running community around the planet. Capable of winning the whole thing. Chris Wilczewski – See my blog below about Chris and his interview video. The guy is a stud. Mike Bernardo – DC firefighter and paramedic. I’ve known Mike since we were getting ready to compete both of us for the first time in ANW2. He’s a very strong well-conditioned athlete, and could be a real darkhorse in the region. Travis Noble Graves – From the legendary Tribe\APK team. The Amazing Oti – Everybody on the G4 and Sasuke Maniac Forum boards know Oti, and his legendary focus and preparation. The dude is an animal, and a good ninja brother who has encouraged me since I was just dreaming about competing for the first time. Luis Moco – Stuntman from NYC/Boston, good dude and very strong.
And many others…(forgive the jumbled list, rushed to get this out before a long flight): Jamie Rahn aka Captain G4/NBC, Mike Needham, Phil Pirollo (owner of Pinnacle Parkour), Danny Johnson from PA, Travis Weinand from The Warrior Lab, Noel Reyes from NYC/FDNY, Dan Galiczynski aka Gravity Forged (sick gymnast from PA), Elet Hansel Hall parkour stud from MD, Michael Pericloso a dancer from NYC, Ron Dukes personal trainer from Philly, and Gabe Arnold also from Pinnacle. All super-strong competitors capable of going deep in American Ninja Warrior 4.
One of my favorite American Ninja Warrior competitors, both for his mad skills and the joy with which he pursues the dream, is Chris Wilczewski. At the tender age of 22 Chris is already a seasoned veteran of the competitor having made the Boot Camp in American Ninja Warrior 3 and having established a sick parkour and ninja warrior training gym in New Jersey called The Warrior Lab. Chris is a competitor in the Northeast region this season of American Ninja Warrior 4, and I have a feeling is going to generate a lot of buzz with his performance, charisma, and monster skills on the course.
Despite our nearly two decades difference in age, Chris and I have become good buddies and I’m proud to have his friendship and support, as he has mine. I asked him to take some time and answer some questions for me about his experience training for and competing in American Ninja Warrior, which he graciously did, so check out his video below and root hard for him as he puts it all on the line in the Northeast region and hopefully beyond!
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