Disgraced 'Ninja Warrior' Champ Sentenced For Sex Abuse Of Cherry Hill Girl

CAMDEN, NJ — A disgraced winner of "American Ninja Warrior" was sentenced to prison Wednesday for sexually abusing a Cherry Hill girl.

Andrew Drechsel, 35, was sentenced to 10 years, 1 month in prison for receiving child pornography and enticing a minor to cross state lines for sexual activity. Drechsel met the victim in 2014, after an event attended by contestants from the televised competition, according to court documents.

Drechsel and the victim exchanged text messages until June 2019. That November, authorities searched his phone and found images of child sex abuse, including photos of the victim from when she was 14 years old.

He admitted that the victim crossed state lines in July 2015 to have sexual relations with him at a gym he owned in Hamden, Connecticut.

Dreschel rose to prominence on "American Ninja Warrior," winning the NBC program's Season 11 championship. He was also a mentor on "American Ninja Warrior Junior," a spinoff show in which children ages 9-14 competed.

He was arrested in July 2020 — less than a year after he his Season 11 victory. Dreschel pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of receiving child pornography and one count of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a minor to travel interstate to engage in sexual activity.

Along with prison, Dreschel must pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim. He will also be subject to 15 years of supervised release.