Duke’s Coach K will be watching when his grandson competes on ‘American Ninja Warrior’
When 10-year-old John David Spatola makes his television debut on the new season of “American Ninja Warrior Junior,” he’ll become something of a celebrity.
And when that happens, he’s likely to get some advice on how to handle the burdens of celebrity from someone in his own family.
John David, who lives in Hillsborough and attends Durham Academy, is the grandson of Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
But this time, it’s all about the little ninja, who just happens to prefer running obstacles to drilling baskets.
John David — his ninja name is The Dude — and his family traveled to Los Angeles last summer so that he could compete on the series, which premieres Feb. 22 on Universal Kids. His episode will air May 23.
His love for ninja-ing (which is a word we just made up) isn’t all about being on a TV show. It’s something he loves and has devoted a lot of time and energy to.
According to John David’s mother, Jamie Krzyzewski Spatola, the family traveled to Michigan earlier in February for him to compete in the National Ninja League Finals (he placed 6th). He also recently competed in and won his age group in a qualifier for the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association, and later this month, he’ll compete in The Big One — the National Ninja League World Championship in Greensboro (his 8-year-old sister Mackenzie and several other local young ninjas have also qualified and will compete).
You don’t just stroll into one of these competitions just because you like to run and jump. There’s a ton of training involved, and John David and Mackenzie have an obstacle training course right in their backyard, and lots of kids join them there.
“Our backyard has become quite the ninja haven,” Jamie told The News & Observer via email.
“American Ninja Warrior Junior” is hosted by Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, and co-hosted by Victoria Arlen. It features more than 140 Junior Ninjas from across the U.S. — boys and girls — divided into three age brackets: ages 9 and 10, ages 11 and 12, and ages 13 and 14.
Hunter Rowland of Raleigh competed on the show last season.
This season will have 10 new obstacles: Shrinking and Floating Steps, the Little Dipper, Spider Walls, Double Tilt Ladders, Crazy Cliffhanger, the Block Run, Flying Squirrel, Wingnuts and Skyhooks. There’s also a Wildcard element this year, which will let kids get a second chance to run the course and make it to the quarterfinal.
Three final winners will be named at the end of the season (one in each age bracket).
Watch ‘American Ninja Warrior Junior’
The season premiere is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22.
Locally, you can find Universal Kids on channel 255 on Spectrum, channel 337 or 1337 on AT&T U-verse, channel 430 on Google Fiber TV, channel 295 on DirecTV. It is not available on DISH network.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 5:26 PM.
