Utah
Utah teen qualifies for ‘American Ninja Warrior’ semifinals
Estimated read time: 4-5
minutes
ST. GEORGE — When Anna McArthur was 7 years old, she was sitting on the couch, watching reruns of “American Ninja Warrior.” Her mother, Jen McArthur, said the young girl looked up at her and said, ‘Mom, I’m going to do this someday.’”
Nine years later, Anna, now 16, stood at the start of “American Ninja Warrior’s” qualifying run — knowing if she completed the obstacle course and reached the ending buzzer fast enough, she would make it to the semifinals.
“I remember just … holding her shoulders and looking her in the eyes and just trying to talk through it, and saying, you know, ‘This is your dream. You just go out and make the most of it and do the very best you can,’” Jen McArthur said.
A few minutes later, the St. George native completed the obstacle course, running up to the buzzer and smashing it, qualifying for the national TV program’s semifinals.
While the entire season was filmed in March, the “American Ninja Warrior” semifinal qualifications aired the night of July 17. And, in a few weeks, viewers can see the outcome of the competition.
Jen McArthur said her daughter’s passion for “American Ninja Warrior” fueled her efforts and training throughout her life, especially after the opening of St. George’s obstacle course training facility, “The Grip.”
“She was literally one of the first, if not their first customer, saying, ‘Sign me up,’” she said, laughing.
The young Utah athlete practiced obstacle courses and exercises at the St. George facility throughout her teenage years, dedicating herself to hours of training in hopes of someday competing on the show.
She “had a natural ability from the beginning, which was crazy and fun,” Jen McArthur said of Anna. “She’s always just been so driven on her own and loved every second of it.”
And while the teenage athlete enjoyed preparing to apply for the competition, Anna also noted how training still posed its difficulties.
“One of the challenges, for me, was just taking the time to do all the training to prepare for it,” she said. “It was pretty taxing on my body and I always had to come home from training and do some recovery because my body was just so sore and tired. But I think, honestly, the experience was so amazing, and I wouldn’t change anything.”
“American Ninja Warrior” ended up changing its age qualifications for competition — shifting the minimum age from 19 to 15 — which led Anna to try out for the show in December 2022.
“They have like a ton of applications come through, so when I applied, I really thought nothing of it,” she said. “When I got the call, I was super in shock and surprised and was not expecting it — and so I just immediately started crying.”
She received her acceptance into the show in February, then traveled to Los Angeles a month later to film the competition.
Now, as the show’s been airing, she and her family members have been able to watch her compete. Seeing herself on the TV, competing on her dream show, has “probably been the most surreal experience that I’ll ever have in my life,” the young athlete said.
When the semifinals’ qualifying run aired, Jen McArthur noted there were “probably about 70 or 80 people in our house, cheering her on.”
“We’re just so grateful that she had the opportunity and was able to, you know, do so well,” she said.
This isn’t the only season Anna will compete — when she was filming for the competition in March, she competed in season 15 and then, a week later, filmed for season 16.
The young athlete said she wants to compete “for as long as I possibly can.”
“The whole experience of just the show, ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ and just the people, and doing local competitions, as well — it’s all just been so great and so fun,” she said. “So, I think I’m just gonna be doing it for as long as I can.”
Her mother added that the entire experience has been “surreal” for her, as well, and said she’s grateful Anna was able to fulfill the dream she’d told her about nine years ago.
“It was just so special,” Jen McArthur said. “It’s crazy to think that at 16 years old, she’s living out a childhood dream that she never would have thought would have probably come that soon.”
Photos
Most recent Southern Utah stories
More stories you may be interested in
For the second time in three seasons, the Utah women’s basketball team is headed to the Mohegan Sun Arena for a high-profile nonconference matchup.
This time, the Utes will face defending national champion UConn in the 12th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Nov. 21.
The matchup was announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday.
For the first time, the Women’s Showcase will feature a four-team, tournament-style format, with Syracuse and Michigan also playing a first-round game on Nov. 21.
Each team will be ensured two games at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, with the championship and third-place games taking place on Nov. 23.
“We are excited to play in this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase,” Utah head coach Gavin Petersen said in a statement.
“It’s always an elite level of competition and a great opportunity to test ourselves early. This year is no exception and will prove to be a great event showcasing women’s basketball.”
This will be the first meeting ever between Utah and UConn. The Huskies beat South Carolina 82-59 in this past year’s national championship game to earn UConn’s 12th national title in the sport.
“The return of the 2025 NCAA women’s champions, UConn, highlights what promises to be the most exciting Women’s Showcase yet,” John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, said in a statement.
“With four outstanding programs competing in a tournament-style format for the first time, this event continues to elevate the platform for women’s college basketball and celebrate the exceptional talent of today’s student-athletes.”
The Utes have a 1-1 overall record against Michigan and have never faced Syracuse.
Two years ago, Utah took on South Carolina in the showcase. In that game, the Utes held tough against that year’s eventual national champions — behind 37 points from Alissa Pili — before the Gamecocks pulled away to win by nine.
With the draft lottery done, we have a template of the selection order ready for the 2025 NHL Draft. Unless Radim Mrtka breaks things up in the top 5-7, we expect a run on forwards early in the draft, especially with so many good centers available. The order in which these forwards go is the most interesting thing about this draft and will be debated by teams and fans in the coming weeks. This mock is my best attempt to project how I think the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will transpire on June 27.
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie (OHL)
Schaefer gives the Islanders a true No. 1 defenseman prospect to build around. His high-end mobility, intelligence and competitiveness project him as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come and he is highly likely to be the pick despite the limited number of games he played this season.
2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)
Misa’s elite speed and creativity give San Jose a franchise-caliber center. The addition of Misa gives the Sharks flexibility to move either him or Will Smith to the wing long term. He can break games open with his skill and vision and will be a foundational offensive piece for a rebuilding Sharks squad.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgården (Allsvenskan)
Frondell brings high-end skill and a complete 200-foot game and fills Chicago’s need for a strong two-way pivot to pair with Connor Bedard, who may end up as a long-term winger in the NHL.
4. Utah Mammoth: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)
Utah prioritizes being hard to play against, and Martone will provide a lot of size and a high compete level while also being very skilled for a big man. It’s easy to envision him next to Logan Cooley on a top line for the next 10 years.
5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (Hockey East)
Nashville adds high-end skill and speed down the middle with Hagens, even if his game needs more inside presence. He brings the potential to be a major point producer and address a critical need for the Predators at center, even if not every NHL scout is convinced he’s an NHL center.
6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
Desnoyers’ stock continues to rise with his great playoff run for Moncton. He’s a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves.
7. Boston Bruins: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
O’Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside. His skill and vision are clear NHL traits and address Boston’s massive need for a center who can drive play and create offense.
8. Seattle Kraken: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game that complements all the skill Seattle has drafted in recent years while also bringing plenty of puck play himself and the ability to be a top-six forward, be it at center or wing.
9. Buffalo Sabres: Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL)
Mrtka is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who skates well and has offensive flashes, giving Buffalo a rare right-shot blueliner with top-four upside. He compares to a Sabres pick from a long time ago in Tyler Myers.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)
A 6-foot-5 center with speed, hands and bite, McQueen gives Anaheim a potential massive talent down the middle. He would have gone top five if it weren’t for a concerning back injury. With superb young talent in the organization, Anaheim can afford the gamble on McQueen.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie (OHL)
Aitcheson adds significant physicality to Pittsburgh’s system while also having the size, mobility and skill of a top-four NHL defenseman.
12. New York Rangers: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
Cootes brings speed, compete and two-way versatility to the Rangers’ forward group, giving them a hardworking center with offensive potential and addressing an important need at center.
13. Detroit Red Wings: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgården (Allsvenskan)
Eklund’s speed, high motor and ability to create offense gives Detroit an important addition of offensive talent to its system while continuing with a trend of prioritizing compete in its picks.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener (OHL)
Reid is a dynamic skater who closes well defensively and can generate clean exits and secondary offense. I could see him or Jackson Smith as the Jackets’ pick here as they try to add young depth to their blue line.
15. Vancouver Canucks: Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)
Reschny is a very skilled and intelligent player who plays hard and was as good as any junior player in the second half of the CHL season. He theoretically gives Vancouver a much-needed young center of the future, although not everyone in the league is convinced he’s a pro center.
16. Montreal Canadiens: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)
A competitive and highly skilled winger who plays a physical game, Bear could provide a lot of elements to Montreal’s top six.
17. Montreal Canadiens: Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL)
Smith brings size, skating and offensive tools to the Canadiens blue-line pipeline as they continue to build a very strong group of young defensemen.
18. Calgary Flames: Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
A fast, strong winger with a dangerous shot, Carbonneau adds a scoring element and high-energy game to Calgary’s top six, even if he’s slightly redundant with someone like Matt Coronato.
19. St. Louis Blues: Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Lakovic is a big man with legit speed, skill and goal-scoring ability. He would be a highly talented forward addition to the Blues’ system, even if his compete level still draws some debate.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
Ravensbergen is a big, athletic goaltender with starter upside — the type of swing Columbus can afford to take on a second first-rounder.
21. Ottawa Senators: Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton (WHL)
Fiddler’s size, defensive ability, skating and hardness make him exactly the type of defenseman Ottawa has coveted. Ideally, the Senators would add some skill to their forward group, but a run on forwards before their pick left them without any of the top-tier forward prospects.
22. Calgary Flames: Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo (Sweden Jr.)
A responsible, hard-nosed, two-way center, Gastrin adds leadership traits and versatility to the forward group.
23. Carolina Hurricanes: Logan Hensler, RHD, Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Hensler fits the type of defenseman Carolina has liked to target: He’s mobile, has skill and can make a reliable pass.
24. Philadelphia Flyers: Daniil Prokhorov, LW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
Prokhorov’s size and physicality fit the typical Flyers draft pick, and he has enough touch and speed to complement their skilled forwards.
25. Philadelphia Flyers: Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University (Hockey East)
One of the better-skating defensemen in the class, Boumedienne provides transition ability with the potential for some offense at the NHL level as well.
26. Nashville Predators: Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
Nesbitt is a heavy center with strong puck skills and playmaking vision. Despite questions about his skating, his offense and physicality make him a legit first-round pick as Nashville builds out its center depth in this draft.
27. Los Angeles Kings: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, LW, Luleå (Sweden Jr.)
The Kings take a swing on a tall winger with NHL-caliber feet, hands and scoring ability, hoping he becomes a future middle-six scorer.
28. San Jose Sharks: Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London (OHL)
Brzustewicz is a smart, mobile right-shot who adds a steady two-way game to a Sharks system that needs quality blueliners.
29. Chicago Blackhawks: Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
Spence brings high effort, responsible two-way play and a solid track record for Canada. He’s not the flashiest forward but he has legit enough talent to play in a middle six.
30. Nashville Predators: William Horcoff, C, Michigan (Big Ten)
A big, skilled forward with great hands, Horcoff needs to work on his skating but has the potential to be a legit scorer as a pro and looked quite good at the college level as a 17-year-old.
31. Washington Capitals: Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State (NCHC)
Potter’s great skating and puck skill give Washington a dynamic, high-upside forward, but his size and perimeter play does worry teams too.
32. Winnipeg Jets: Bill Zonnon, LW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Zonnon is a big winger who skates and shoots well enough to be a middle-six contributor in Winnipeg’s forward pipeline.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos of Porter Martone, Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
With the college basketball portal closed as of April 22, players across the country continue to announce their future destinations.
Utah State, one of the nation’s top programs over the past seasons, received big news when head coach Jerrod Calhoun signed a contract extension to remain with the school. After winning 20 or more games in six of the past seven seasons, Utah State had become a launching pad for coaches with the Aggies having had four different coaches over a five-year span. Calhoun went 26-8 this past season in year one and appears to be in Logan, Utah for the long haul.
Despite Calhoun remaining in place that doesn’t mean that players won’t continue to come and go as has become the norm in the years of the college basketball transfer portal. Of this past season’s top four scorers, only one will be back with Utah State next season. Guards Ian Martinez and Dexter Akanno have exhausted their collegiate eligibility while guard Deyton Albury has transferred to New Mexico for his final season.
Rising juniors Mason Falslev and Karson Templin have both announced their returns to Utah State while the program added Zach Keller (Utah), MJ Colins (Vanderbilt) and Kolby King (Butler). Among those on the move from Utah State is guard Braden Housley.
A native of Lehi, Utah, Housley played high school basketball at Skyridge. He averaged 16 points, seven assists and three steals per game as a senior while leading the Falcons to an 18-7 record. He joined Southern Utah in 2022-23 and redshirted during his freshman season. In year two, Housley started 31 games while playing 35 minutes per game for the Thunderbirds. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard then transferred to Utah State this past season and played in three games before an injury ended his season early.
Utah Valley inks Utah State transfer Braden Housley.
Former WAC All-Freshman guard is headed to the Valley. ✍️🏀#GoUVU | #ValleyForged | #UVUhoopshttps://t.co/wxOpQZ4Zvc— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) May 9, 2025
Now on the move once again, Housley will remain in-state, joining Utah Valley for his third school in three seasons. A member of the All-WAC freshman team two seasons ago, Housley will be back in that conference next season. Facing off against Utah Valley as a member of Southern Utah, Housley played 79 of a possible 80 minutes over the two games, dishing out 12 assists. His best career game came in a two-point loss at Utah. Housley had 23 points and five assists, knocking down eight of his 14 shot attempts.
MORE MOUNTAIN WEST NEWS & ANALYSIS
• San Diego State adds commitment from high school prospect
• New Mexico gets commitment from transfer quarterback
• Former San Diego State tight end invited to NFL mini-camp
• New Mexico announces signings of two basketball transfers
Flooding in western Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania leaves boy missing, schools and homes swamped
Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for May 13, 2025
Mass. Dems sound alarm over Medicaid cuts in major US budget bill
What defines a heat wave?
Pertussis cases increasing in Mississippi and across the country
-
Austin, TX3 days agoBest Austin Salads – 15 Food Places For Good Greens!
-
Education1 week agoIn Alabama Commencement Speech, Trump Mixes In the Political
-
Technology1 week agoBe careful what you read about an Elden Ring movie
-
Culture1 week agoPulitzer Prizes 2025: A Guide to the Winning Books and Finalists
-
Education1 week agoUniversity of Michigan President, Santa Ono, Set to Lead University of Florida
-
World5 days agoThe Take: Can India and Pakistan avoid a fourth war over Kashmir?
-
Technology5 days agoNetflix is removing Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
-
Politics1 week agoEPA chief Zeldin announces overhauls to bring agency back to Reagan-level staffing