Progressive Athletic Center athletes were preparing for weeks building up to the Grizzly Ninja Challenge. Center ninjas have learned the progressional beginner to advanced skills on each ninja apparatus and successively learned to connect and transfer between apparatuses.
The energy went from an 8 to a 10, when American Ninja Warrior contestants Abby Clark (seasons 9, 10 and 11) and Joe Capo (season 11) showed up in their American Ninja Warrior gear and personable smiles. The crowd was buzzing. The celebrity athletes had arrived and when they show up, they really show up. They demonstrated the competition courses for the kids and did flips on flips on the Progressive Athletic Center’s tumble track. A large percentage of ninja warrior athletes are gymnasts — not a coincidence. Clark and Capo were impressed with the PAC’s facility, the color pop, the space and the equipment.
Five events. One trial run. One run on the clock. Three age groups. The obstacles highlighted different skill sets that are taught weekly at our PAC gym. Skills such as generating a proper swing, building up grip strength, vaulting, safety landing, gaining speed in short distances, transferring body weight and agility were all combined into a Grizzly Challenge.
Obstacles included equipment such as the warped wall, rings, trapeze bars, quintuple steps, floating plank, rock wall, floating pillars, devil steps and zip-line. Each age group — ages 6 and 7, 8 and 9, and 10 and above — persevered to get through each obstacle, pushing themselves with the encouragement of their parents and Clark and Capo in the crowd.
The winner of the championship belt for the 6 and 7 year olds was Paxton Jakymec from Bellmore Village, followed by Leo Blanchet from Bayside Hills and, in third place, Will Quinlan from Manhasset.
The championship belt winner in the 8 and 9-year-old division was Mateo Limberis of Bayside, followed by Peter Bogdanos from Floral Park in second place and, in third place, Christopher Covelli from Williston Park.
The 10 and up age group first place winner was Danny Mor of Floral Park, second place was Kieran Kim from Mineola, and third place was Emily Clearly of Floral Park.
The center simultaneously showcased a new piece of ninja equipment, a 10 by 20 all-inclusive rig with a monkey ladder, rings, swinging ropes, cargo net, floating plank and balance beam. This rig isn’t just eye candy, it’s the center’s latest joint project with international equipment manufacturing company AAI. Working in conjunction with AAI, the center is working to unify the ninja community on Long Island and beyond.
Summer registration is now open. Check out the schedule on Progressivegymnastics.com, or call 516-775-5545
Submitted by Progressive Athletic Center
