A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of covering another UNAA Ninja competition in my hometown of Palmetto at LIVE Training Center. The UNAA is not affiliated with the NBC show, American Ninja Warrior, but it’s all the same people that turn up at these events to prepare for the big show. These are professionals at the top of their game and watching them perform is both exhilarating and humbling.
Anyway, I shot stills and video all weekend. The video is a quick 2-minute recap, and these are just a few of the 1500 stills. The rest can be found at the Live Training Center Facebook Page
Highlight Video
Morgan Wright
Here Morgan Wright (aka-Moose Morgan) put on a perfect pouty face after an early end to stage two. Don’t be fooled by the tomfoolery, Morgan is a ham of a character and a fan favorite on the show. I can say he’s pretty much the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. No surprise that Morgan placed number one in his category.
Ashley McConville
At 19, Ashley McConville just returned from her debut on American Ninja Warrior 2019 in Atlanta. I’ve watched her perform in many events and it’s obvious she’s a rising star. In the spring I watch in amazement when she surpassed the men in a super-human feat of rope climbing. She knows how to bring the house down.
Kyle McCreight
This year, Kyle McCreight was picked from a lottery as a walk-on for ANW Atlanta. Kyle McCreight is a regular at LIVE Training and arguably one of the most aggressive competitors in the sport. If I didn’t know better I would swear he’s the real-life Spider-Man.
Jason Kotzin
Jason Kotzin is another amazing performer that had his debut on Season 11 of ANW in Atlanta. Jason seemingly came out of nowhere to captivate the audience and rival competitors alike. He places second overall and he has the battle wounds to prove it. He features prominently in the video above.
Caleb Bergstrom
Speaking of rising stars, look no further than Caleb Bergstrom. His father is a show veteran and this year he competed with his sister in Atlanta. Now that Caleb is old enough to compete on TV, look for him to be a top contender. That aside, Caleb coaches many of the children in the juniors events and is a great role model.