The course returns with the Mega Wall and Power Tower, and the fifty most popular athletes from previous seasons returned with two other ninjas (mostly rookies) of their choosing, like their ninja training partners or someone they have a special connection with. The top twelve competitors moved on to the semifinals after each qualifying episode, as well as the top three women. In this season, the player who won the Power Tower would get to bring their chosen rookies with them to the semifinals, even if the rookies had not made it into the top twelve finishers (or top three women). With the knockout tournament format, there were changes to the semifinal courses as well — unlike the past seasons, a competitor that completed the course would not automatically move on; they would have to be in the top 12 or have made it up the Mega Wall. One contestant, Nick Hanson, did not move on to the semifinals because of COVID contact tracing despite making it up the Mega Wall. Because of the format change to a knockout tournament and a team format instead of the traditional Sasuke format, the winner's prize has been decreased to only $100,000,[5] which was awarded to the winner of the knockout tournament final.
Italics means that this competitor was also in the top 3 women.
Underline means that this competitor won the Power Tower.
Bold means that this competitor made it up the Mega Wall.
Night 1
The first qualifying round featured three new obstacles, Weight for It, Ring Chaser, and Rib Run. Notable ninjas running the course were school teachers, medical professionals, and ICU nurses who were all making a difference on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, former NFL linebacker Kamerion Wimbley returned after his record-setting season in 2012, being the biggest man (240 pounds) to complete a course. Jody Avila won the Power Tower round, which was unaired as a result of a legal situation involving his opponent.
Top 12 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jody Avila*
1:44.41
Finished
2
Tyler Gillett
1:45.20
Finished
3
Nate Hansen
1:53.09
Finished
4
Jon Alexis Jr.
2:20.02
Finished
5
Julius Ferguson
3:07.16
Finished
6
Mike Wright
3:45.41
Finished
7
Grant McCartney
4:01.16
Finished
8
Allyssa Beird
4:15.10
Finished
9
Flip Rodriguez
1:13.08
Slingshot
10
Jonathan Horton
1:20.75
Slingshot
11
Ryan Lashoff
1:25.63
Slingshot
12
Taylor Johnson
2:21.53
Slingshot
Top 3 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Allyssa Beird
4:15.10
Finished
2
Taylor Johnson
2:21.53
Slingshot
3
Sandy Zimmerman
2:25.07
Slingshot
As a result of United States v. Drechsel, which was announced after taping for the season had ended, significant edits were made to this episode. Drechsel's run did not air. The 13th-place contestant also failed Slingshot but did not advance. Johnson, who finished behind other contestants but was the second-place female ninja, was given credit as the 12th-place finisher. Johnson and Ferguson were rookies selected by Drechsel. Also, the Power Tower Playoff, which was Drechsel and Avila, was not broadcast because of the ongoing legal issues. According to sources, Avila won the round.
Night 2
Ashley McConville became the twentieth woman in ANW history to make it up the Warped Wall and move on to the semifinals, and Jake Murray's teammates, former AHL hockey player Barry Goers of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Glenn Albright moved on to the semifinals due to Murray's win on the Power Tower. Also, the "Eskimo Ninja" Nick Hanson completed the course and made it up the Mega Wall but did not have a fast enough time to make it into the top 12, later to be revealed as contact tracing.[7]
Also of note, second-place finisher Ethan "The Swan" Swanson did not compete in the semifinals after he came in close contact with another competitor who had tested positive for COVID-19.[8]
Top 12 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jake Murray
0:54.50
Finished
2
Ethan Swanson
1:04.14
Finished
3
Jackson Twait
1:13.57
Finished
4
Daniel Gil
1:18.57
Finished
5
Cam Baumgartner
1:20.60
Finished
6
Abel Gonzalez
1:36.75
Finished
7
Donovan Metoyer
1:43.56
Finished
8
Jamie Rahn
1:49.46
Finished
9
Chris DiGangi
1:56.40
Finished
10
Gabriel Hotchkiss
2:06.95
Finished
11
Jesse Labreck
2:10.54
Finished
12
Roo Yori
2:19.71
Finished
Top 3 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jesse Labreck
2:10.54
Finished
2
Ashley McConville
4:26.34
Finished
3
Caitlyn Bergstrom
1:09.22
Ferris Wheel
Night 3
Stuntwoman Jessie Graff once again completed the course, making it to the end to tie Jesse "Flex" Labreck for the most buzzers among women ninjas with five. Meanwhile, the teammates of drummer R.J. Roman of metal band Emuness, Ben Melick and Jessica Helmer moved on to the semifinals even though they did not complete the course because Roman won the Power Tower.[9]
Despite finishing among the top three women, Rachael Goldstein was unable to compete in the semifinals due to a broken finger which she suffered while filming a special episode of American Ninja Warrior in St. Louis.[10]
Top 12 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
R. J. Roman
1:10.07
Finished
2
Sean Bryan
1:28.81
Finished
3
Thomas Stillings
1:29.38
Finished
4
Austin Gray
1:34.38
Finished
5
Tage Herrington
2:06.99
Finished
6
Dan Polizzi
2:09.88
Finished
7
Najee Richardson
2:49.36
Finished
8
David Campbell
3:27.48
Finished
9
Jessie Graff
3:58.76
Finished
10
Adam Rayl
0:35.17
Ferris Wheel
11
Devin Harrelson
0:56.85
Ferris Wheel
12
Lorin Ball
1:06.59
Ferris Wheel
Top 3 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jessie Graff
3:58.76
Finished
2
Zhanique Lovett
0:32.61
Spinning Bridge
3
Rachael Goldstein
0:30.43
Beehive
Night 4
"The Weatherman" Joe Moravsky just edged out Michael Torres, who had the fastest time, and brought his teammates, Will Schlageter and Jeshuah Lewis back into the competition. Notable ninjas featured "Big Cat" Karsten Williams, rookie former MLB player of the San Francisco GiantsGary Brown who ran the course, making it to the fifth obstacle. Also, six-time ANW veteran Tiana "Sweet T" Webberley hit the buzzer for the first time, as well as ICU nurse Mady Howard who completed the course with the fastest time for the women.
Top 12 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Michael Torres
1:08.75
Finished
2
Joe Moravsky
1:13.95
Finished
3
Lucas Reale
1:17.09
Finished
4
Mathis “Kid” Owhadi
1:23.17
Finished
5
Amir Malik
1:26.15
Finished
6
David Wright
1:30.67
Finished
7
Lance Pekus
1:45.62
Finished
8
Kevin Bull
1:57.17
Finished
9
Alex Nye
2:04.69
Finished
10
Brian Kretsch
2:18.44
Finished
11
Alex Carson
2:19.92
Finished
12
Verdale Benson
2:22.29
Finished
Top 3 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Mady Howard
2:29.28
Finished
2
Tiana Webberley
2:41.03
Finished
3
Meagan Martin
1:12.35
Sideways
St. Louis Qualifying Leaderboard
Key
Italics means that this competitor was also in the top 3 women.
Underline means that this competitor won the Power Tower.
Bold means that this competitor made it up the Mega Wall.
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jake Murray
0:54.50
Finished
2
Ethan Swanson
1:04.14
Finished
3
Michael Torres
1:08.75
Finished
4
R.J. Roman
1:10.07
Finished
5
Jackson Twait
1:13.57
Finished
6
Joe Moravsky
1:13.95
Finished
7
Lucas Reale
1:17.09
Finished
8
Daniel Gil
1:18.57
Finished
9
Cameron Baumgartner
1:20.60
Finished
10
Mathis "Kid" Owhadi
1:23.17
Finished
11
Amir Malik
1:26.15
Finished
12
Sean Bryan
1:26.81
Finished
13
Thomas Stillings
1:29.38
Finished
14
David Wright
1:30.67
Finished
15
Austin Gray
1:34.38
Finished
16
Abel Gonzalez
1:36.75
Finished
17
Donovan Metoyer
1:43.56
Finished
18
Jody Avila
1:44.41
Finished
19
Tyler Gillett
1:45.20
Finished
20
Lance Pekus
1:45.62
Finished
21
Jamie Rahn
1:49.46
Finished
22
Nate Hansen
1:53.09
Finished
23
Chris DiGangi
1:56.40
Finished
24
Kevin Bull
1:57.17
Finished
25
Alex Nye
2:04.69
Finished
26
Gabriel Hotchkiss
2:06.95
Finished
27
Tage Herrington
2:06.99
Finished
28
Dan Polizzi
2:09.88
Finished
29
Jesse Labreck
2:10.54
Finished
30
Brian Kretsch
2:18.44
Finished
31
Roo Yori
2:19.71
Finished
32
Alex Carson
2:19.92
Finished
33
Jon Alexis Jr.
2:20.02
Finished
34
Verdale Benson
2:22.29
Finished
35
Najee Richardson
2:49.36
Finished
36
Julius Ferguson
3:07.16
Finished
37
Vance Harris
3:10.31
Finished
38
David Campbell
3:27.48
Finished
39
Mike Wright
3:45.41
Finished
40
Jessie Graff
3:58.76
Finished
41
Grant McCartney
4:01.16
Finished
42
Allyssa Beird
4:15.10
Finished
43
Nick Hanson
N/A
Finished
44
Adam Rayl
0:35.17
Ferris Wheel
45
Devin Harrelson
0:56.85
Ferris Wheel
46
Lorin Ball
1:06.59
Ferris Wheel
47
Flip Rodriguez
1:13.08
Slingshot
48
Jonathan Horton
1:20.75
Slingshot
49
Ryan Lashoff
1:25.63
Slingshot
50
Taylor Johnson
2:21.53
Slingshot
51
Barry Goers
N/A
Ferris Wheel
52
Glenn Albright
N/A
Ferris Wheel
53
Ben Melick
N/A
Ferris Wheel
54
Jeshuah Lewis
N/A
Sideways
55
Will Schlageter
N/A
Beehive
56
Jessica Helmer
N/A
Shrinking Steps
Top 12 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jesse Labreck
2:10.54
Finished
2
Mady Howard
2:29.28
Finished
3
Tiana Webberley
2:41.03
Finished
4
Jessie Graff
3:58.76
Finished
5
Allyssa Beird
4:15.10
Finished
6
Ashley McConville
4:26.34
Finished
7
Caitlyn Bergstrom
1:09.22
Ferris Wheel
8
Meagan Martin
1:12.35
Sideways
9
Taylor Johnson
2:21.53
Slingshot
10
Sandy Zimmerman
2:25.07
Slingshot
11
Zhanique Lovett
0:32.61
Spinning Bridge
12
Rachel Goldstein
0:30.43
Beehive
St. Louis Semifinals
Night 1
Some notable competitors like Grant McCartney, Kevin Bull, Abel Gonzalez, and Mathis "Kid" Owhadi failed on Corkscrew, an obstacle new to this season, and did not advance to the finals.
Drew Drechsel originally finished in the top 12, but due to his post-taping legal issues, his runs were edited out. Devin Harrelson finished 13th, as he was eliminated on the Corkscrew with a faster time exiting the Salmon Ladder than Graff. However, Graff, the top woman who finished outside the top twelve, was upgraded to 12th in post-production.
St. Louis Semifinals Leaderboard
Top 24 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jake Murray
4:37.44
Finished
2
Daniel Gil
4:38.58
Finished
3
Joe Moravsky
4:59.28
Finished
4
Lucas Reale
5:00.44
Finished
5
Austin Gray
5:20.95
Finished
6
Cameron Baumgartner
5:30.18
Finished
7
RJ Roman
5:31.00
Finished
8
Micheal Torres
5:52.46
Finished
9
Tyler Gillett
6:20.09
Finished
10
Adam Rayl
6:27.41
Finished
11
Najee Richardson
6:35.79
Finished
12
Jackson Twait
3:56.67
Spider Trap
13
Amir Malik
3:58.17
Spider Trap
14
Jody Avila
2:50.82
The Dungeon
15
Donovan Metoyer
2:59.32
The Dungeon
16
Jon Alexis Jr.
3:07.59
The Dungeon
17
Flip Rodriguez
3:22.35
The Dungeon
18
David Wright
3:23.39
The Dungeon
19
Chris DiGangi
3:30.35
The Dungeon
20
Jamie Rahn
4:03.01
The Dungeon
21
Dan Polizzi
4:15.65
The Dungeon
22
Thomas Stillings
2:06.43
Corkscrew
23
Jeshuah Lewis
2:13.26
Corkscrew
24
Jessie Graff
3:54.09
Corkscrew
Top 4 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jesse Labreck
4:25.54
The Dungeon
2
Jessie Graff
3:54.09
Corkscrew
3
Sandy Zimmerman
4:55.26
Corkscrew
4
Jeri D'Aurelio
2:21.05
Slingshot
St. Louis Finals
The finals of the show spanned two nights—episode seven, and the beginning of episode eight.
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jake Murray
3:56.20
Finished
2
Daniel Gil
4:12.68
Finished
3
Lucas Reale
4:33:36
Finished
4
Najee Richardson
4:36:66
Finished
5
Austin Gray
4:40:29
Finished
6
Adam Rayl
6:24.15
Finished
7
Jesse Labreck
7:31.02
Finished
8
Amir Malik
2:40.70
Dragonback
Power Tower Playoff Bracket
The Final 8 competed in a single-elimination tournament format with the top 8 seeded based on their performance in the final. The results are as follows:
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
1
Jake Murray
Lose
8
Amir Malik
Win
8
Amir Malik
Lose
5
Austin Gray
36.00
4
Najee Richardson
Lose
5
Austin Gray
Win
5
Austin Gray
Lose
2
Daniel Gil
30.13
2
Daniel Gil
35.24
7
Jesse Labreck
Lose
2
Daniel Gil
Win
6
Adam Rayl
Lose
3
Lucas Reale
Lose
6
Adam Rayl
Win
American Ninja Warrior 12 champion: Daniel Gil
Broadcast Notes and United States v. Drechsel Case
Drew Drechsel, the season eleven champion, participated in this season for the duration of its taping. On July 31, 2020, six days after the taping concluded, the United States Department of Justice formally charged him with four felonies for various crimes in regards to criminal sexual conduct in regards to a complaint filed by a 19-year old woman to the police in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Following an August 4 press release by the Department of Justice, NBC cut ties with him, did not air his runs, and prohibited him from appearing in future seasons.[12] They did, however, air the rookies Drechsel chose to compete off-screen. In addition, because Drechsel competed on the Power Tower in episode one (losing to "Big Dog Ninja" Jody Avila),[13] the Power Tower competition was not aired; Avila was credited with a win by forfeit. Fellow ninja Joe Moravsky stated on a Twitch stream that Drechsel didn't make it to the Power Tower Playoffs.[14][15]
On June 1, 2023, Mr. Dreschel pled guilty to one count of child pornography and one count of enticing travel for sexual conduct. Sentencing was originally scheduled for October 24, 2023.[16] On June 26, 2024 at 2:37 PM local time, Drechsel was sentenced to 121 months in prison (just over 10 years) followed by 15 years of supervised release along with lifetime sex offender registration and USD$100,000 in restitution.[17] Judge Renee Bumb called Drechsel a "dangerous predator" during the sentencing proceedings.[18] He is imprisoned at Federal Correctional Institution, Milan in Michigan, where he is imprisoned until 2029.