Unlike most River Falls High School students, Evan White participates in a unique sport that has allowed him to show his skills on a TV show, “American Ninja Warrior Junior.” White was featured on season three of the show and competed with other athletes from across the nation.

“My favorite part is probably meeting so many people and competing against some of my best friends,” said White. “It was also really awesome to be able to hit a buzzer during the competition.”

American Ninja Warrior features athletes who compete in the sport called Ninja Warrior Training. There are gyms across the United States that train in this obstacle course-style

See AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, Page 12

Evan White with the hosts of “America Ninja Warrior Junior,” Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila. Photo courtesy of Evan and Salena White

River Falls High School student Evan White at the “American Ninja Warrior Junior” competition. Photo courtesy of Evan and Salena White AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR

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sport. It takes a combination of stamina, strength and intensive training to compete.

White got into the sport by watching it on television. He thought it was interesting and wanted to try it out. That interest brought him all the way to national TV. He even got one of his friends to join him by teaching him “Ninja” on the school playground during recess.

White said, “I actually got my friend to do it with me. I taught him Ninja during recess and that’s how he started and he trains too now.”

The “American Ninja Warrior Junior” competition receives thousands of applications each season; White applied two times before being chosen the third time he applied.

At the time of the competition, White was 14. The competition has numerous age groups with about 32 kids in each. White was at the competition for about five days and during that time, he filmed, did interviews and competed in multiple rounds.

White’s mother, Salena White said, “It’s intense for sure. I think the last time there were close to 10,000 applicants so it definitely was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him and it’s awesome to watch.”

Going to the competition and being on TV was challenging for White at first. Not being used to the cameras and the interviews was something he felt he improved upon as time went on.

“I had to get used to that and at first I struggled with that part of it, but after a couple times I definitely got used to that and I’m much better with that aspect now,” Evan White said. “It was definitely weird watching it back and realizing that it was me on TV. During the competition so much is going on, so parts of it I didn’t even really remember, but it’s cool for sure.”

Like White previously said, his favorite part of the experience was making so many lifelong friends; he now has friends in several states across the country.

“I’ve made so many friends from the competition and they are all over the country, like we could name a state and I could list a few friends I have from each it seems like,” he said.

White currently trains at a gym in Woodbury, Minn. called Conquer Ninja Gyms and a gym in Edina, Minn. called Obstacle Academy. He is constantly at the gyms training for other competitions. White hopes to return to the show in the near future.

Another competition for 15-year-old athletes is beginning to accept applications and will film next year. White hopes to be one of the chosen applicants for that contest. He is confident that he’ll be able to compete again; he has been training and competing since he was 10 and feels prepared.

During the third season of “American Ninja Warrior Jr.,” White made it to the top eight in the show, out of 96 total competitors.

This once in a lifetime experience will always stick with White. While he continues to train for future competitions, he continues to do what he loves. In a year, he hopes to show his progress on the next season and earn the opportunity to hit another buzzer.

White is featured in the third season of the “American Ninja Warrior Junior” show in multiple episodes. The show is available to watch on the streaming service Peacock.