Milford Youth Competes In TV Show To Become Ninja Warrior Junior

MILFORD, CT — Some folks bemoan that children are more interested in playing video games or playing on their tablets than being active. Well Collin Cella, 10, who is a fifth-grade student at Orange Avenue School, is a big-time exception.

Colin has been training several days a week for years and it's paid off in an upcoming appearance in the American Ninja Warrior Junior television show, which is set to premiere on Oct. 13 on the Universal Kids Network, which is Channel 130 on Optimum. The show closely follows the popular NBC reality show, American Ninja Warrior.

Collin was picked to compete on season 1. The show was filmed in LA over the summer. The show premiers on October 13 and will be 19 episodes.

"Collin has been competing in Ninja Warrior competitions for 3 years and is the current National Champion!" his mother, Jaimie Cella, proudly declares.

Collin will appear on four of the 19 episodes. "Although I cannot say how he did, I can say it will be worth watching until the end!" his mother said.

Collin began training with Drew Drechsel, the season 10 American Ninja Warrior winner, at New Era Ninjas in Hamden when he was 7 years-old. Soon after, he was selected to be part of the New Era competitive ninja team. Collin was the youngest kid on the competitive team which competes nationwide.

In April, 2018, American Ninja Warrior announced that they would be filming a kids show and that they were accepting submission videos. Collin is the current National Champion (2018) for the National Ninja League, which prior to the kids show, was the highest level of competition for kids.

"We prepared his video and application and hoped for the best. It's absolutely amazing and overwhelming to see all that Collin had accomplished. He trains 3 days a week at New Era Ninja and every day in our "ninja garage," Jaimie Cella said.

"He is only 10 years-old and has fulfilled dreams that most people won't in a whole lifetime! Collin's passion and dedication for the sport is truly inspirational," his mother said.