Syracuse-Area Athletes Vying to be Named the Best Ninja in the World
The Warrior Factory™ Syracuse Sends Eight Competitors to National Ninja World Finals
Syracuse, NY: The Warrior Factory™ Syracuse (TWFS) is sending eight ninjas to the National Ninja League (NNL) World Finals in Lawrence Township, NJ June 26 - July 3, 2021. These athletes have qualified in a hyper-selective season that upped the ante at each competition.
Winning not only comes with bragging rights but also with sponsorships and monetary awards (for the Adult Age Divisions). Winning a World Title is no small feat and even being in the pursuit of one is an accomplishment to be recognized.
Dani Duke, a Gillete Road Middle School 6th grader in the Cicero-North Syracuse School District, qualified for the World Championship Competition by placing well in the New England Regional Qualifiers. Competing in the very competitive Preteen Female division Dani is hoping to continue her growth and dominance in the sport.
Zoie Whelan, a Christain Brothers Academy 8th grader, took 1st Place in the Teen Female division at the New England Regionals to earn her way into the World Championship Competition. A gifted athlete, Zoie’s strength, speed, and insatiable work ethic make her a force to be reckoned with on the ninja course.
Anella Bolster, a Marcellus Senior High 10th grader, came in 2nd in the Young Adult Female division at the New England Regionals and was the top point earner over the season which punched her ticket to Worlds. Fluid and strong, Anella will be looking for a podium finish at Worlds.
Jeremy Warters, a coach at TWFS earned his spot at the World Championship by logging win after win all season long and ending up 2nd in total points for the Adult Male division. His ability to flow through a course is the envy of many ninjas and his ability to jump insane distances challenges course designers to take their obstacles to the next level.
A relative newcomer to the sport is Rachel Cornish who qualified in the Adult Female division by finishing in the top 5 at the New England Regionals. Rachel is thrilled to be going to her first World Championship Competition.
Chrissy Carpenter is another newcomer that qualified for Worlds in the Adult Female division. Chrissy has the drive to be the best in everything she does and is eager to see the level of competition represented at Worlds.
Rochester transplant and American Ninja Warrior Season 13 rookie, Quinn Nguyen finished 5th at the New England Regionals in the Adult Male division to qualify for the chance to beat the best of the best.
Kevin Bolster rounds out the list of ninjas heading to Worlds from TWFS by having the 2nd highest point total overall for the Masters (40+) Male division. He hopes to make it home from the World Championship Competition injury-free. (And also with a win so he’s not outdone by his daughter Anella!)
All of TWFS ninjas will be coached by the legend in the making, Julien McConnell. Julien, a 3x American Ninja Warrior veteran, is a master of technique and training and is probably the biggest reason these athletes have made it this far into the season.
“All the athletes heading to worlds have trained extremely hard for the past 10 months. With such an exceptionally long season it can be hard to be motivated to push hard for so long, but these athletes have done it. It's truly an honor to be able to coach such dedicated competitors.” said Julien.
For more information on The Warrior Factory™ Syracuse visit www.wfsyr.com and find us on Facebook and Instagram.
About The Warrior Factory: The Warrior Factory™ is a Ninja Warrior Training and Practice facility located in Camillus, NY. The Warrior Factory offers a safe and challenging environment for all ages and skill levels to test the popular obstacles as seen on TV’s American Ninja Warrior. The Warrior Factory™ offers level-based curriculum classes, competitions and more.
