MADISON – With an interest sparked as a preschooler, Will King recently nabbed the gold medal in Alabama State Games’ Ninja Challenge.

King, a 15-year-old sophomore at James Clemens High School, has racked up numerous awards in ninja warrior competitions.

“I got involved when I first started watching “Ninja Warrior” on TV when I was five years old,” King said. “I started climbing walls in my house and hanging on anything … and building ninja obstacles in my backyard.”

King has been training since his first ninja competition at Ninja Obstacle Academy in 2017. Ninja is a solo sport, but he also participates with the Rocket City Ninjas team for out-of-town contests. His contest name is “The WilldaBeast Ninja.”

These games are affiliated with State Games Of America. (asffoundation.org/ninja-challenge)

Ninja competitions feature obstacles that require different skills, such as balance, endurance, agility, strength and speed. “You need to have tenacity and drive to overcome each obstacle and be willing to (train and improve) in each aspect,” King said.

“I was excited to win. It felt great to know all my hard work and training paid off and helped me beat other competitors,” King said. He realized the need to accelerate training to take his competitions and skill to the next level.

Since sixth grade, Will has played trombone. In eighth grade, he qualified for Alabama All-State Band, “where the Alabama Band Association gets all the best players and creates one band. I also had the honor of playing as first chair in University of Alabama at Birmingham Honor Band and District Honor Band.”

Earning straight A’s in classes, Will plays trombone in James Clemens’ Competition Marching Band and Wind Ensemble. “I’m looking forward to band camp, because I’ve missed playing in marching band. I’m also excited to see my friends again,” he said.

His parents are Jeff and Vicky King. Jeff works as an engineer at The Boeing Company. Vicky is a preschool teacher at Madison United Methodist Church.

In July, Will will compete in Ultimate Ninja Athletic Association‘s World Finals in Las Vegas. Primarily in America, the association is a ninja league with gyms nationwide that hold qualifier meets. “Those who qualify move on to the world finals. Around 125 kids currently are qualified in my division, but well over 1,000 competitors attend, ranging from 7 years old to over 40,” Will said.

“I’m working hard towards two of my goals. One is to compete and win on the “American Ninja Warrior” show, and the second is to be in the Million Dollar Band at the University of Alabama,” Will said.