LACEY – Few towns have their own savage ninja warrior.
Lacey does, though. Ava Colasanti competed in the game show American Ninja Warrior during this season and became a local hero.
She was joined by her family during a Township Committee meeting where she accepted a proclamation from the mayor. She was wearing her trademark pink T-shirt which sported her Ninja Warrior slogan of “Savage” on it that she wore during her competition (You can’t spell “Savage” without “Ava”).
Mayor Peter Curatolo said the township wanted to recognize the talent and hard work exemplified by Ava for her athletic ability and determination. The teenager endured hours of training for a competition that involves an obstacle course and various surprises that must be overcome with speed, agility and intelligence.
Ava spent a lot of time at a Toms River-based training facility called Base Camp, “where she excelled in competition for three years and then joined the National Ninja League where she continued to excel and qualify for the world championship in February 2019,” the mayor said.
Ava continued to train five days a week at Base Camp and in her home garage that her father converted into a mini gym. She was also a member of the Lacey High School Track Team and in July 2019 she joined a Ninja organization called Center Court Sports.
She competed against adults and despite an injury and time off caused by the pandemic she was able to return to Center Court in September of 2020 and qualified for the National Ninja League and won five league championships. She joined a climbing gym in Brick Township last November and a month later submitted an application for American Ninja Warrior.
“Her attitude, drive and determination and hard work earned her national and state wide recognition,” the mayor said. She competed in the TV show’s 13th season during the summer and the 16-year-old qualified to the final round in August of this year. The teen did well but the mayor noted “she was knocked out by the jumping spider.”
Ava said after she received the proclamation, “thank you this really means a lot. I’m training hard and hope to do even better next year.”
Township Clerk/Business Administrator Veronica Laureigh asked what led her to become involved in the Ninja competition.
Ava replied that she watched the show when she was younger. “I told myself my first day of base camp that I wanted to compete there so I trained super hard. It was awesome.”
The teen said that the cameras at the competition “definitely changed the dynamic.”
“We are all very proud of you,” the mayor said.
