​Devon Jackson of Pocono Mountain East, who is just 9 years old, celebrated after recovering a fumble against Dieruff on August 22, 2025. Taj Falconer, Special to the Pocono Record, captured the moment. In other news, Grace Carr, a Stroudsburg High School student, is chasing her dreams on national television by competing on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. At 16, Carr qualified for the Eastern Regional Finals by advancing from her July 6 qualifying run, and she will compete again on Monday, July 13, with the NBC broadcast starting at 9 p.m. ET. Carr spoke with the Pocono Record to share what she has experienced so far on the show, her ninja background, and what she’s looking forward to. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
First question: How has the American Ninja Warrior experience been so far, from flying to Las Vegas to meeting fellow ninjas? Carr described the experience as a dream come true. “Living out that dream every step of the way was just amazing,” she said. “And being a television star was actually really cool and a lot more fun than I expected.”
How did you get into ninja? Carr explained that she had watched the show since she was very young. A local gym, Freedom Gymnastics and Obstacle Training in Brodheadsville, opened near her, and she decided to give it a try. She found it incredibly enjoyable and continued training, eventually competing locally and realizing she had a talent for the sport. She noted that while most kids gravitated toward soccer or basketball, Ninja appealed to her in a way those sports did not.
How did you get on the show? Carr said that having a compelling story is essential for the TV format. She filled out a four-page application and submitted a two-to-three-minute video showcasing her personality. The producers evaluated many applicants and selected finalists, hoping that the training would translate into competition success.
During the interview, there was a reference to her playing snare drums on stage. Carr is a member of Stroudsburg High School’s marching band, and she discussed how much she enjoys music. She described combining her two main interests—music and ninja—into one experience, which she found fantastic.
Is Grace Carr a fan of ninja veteran Abby Clark? Yes. Abby Clark was a longtime presence on the show, and she and her gym, Next Level Ninja, operate in Flemington, New Jersey. Carr began visiting the gym about four years ago, roughly an hour from her home, and she has learned a great deal from Clark and the broader ninja community.
Carr also mentioned meeting Abby in person at local competitions previously, which helped her grow into the role of a competitor on American Ninja Warrior. With her strong background, she is poised to represent her school and community on a national stage as she continues toward the next round of the competition.