MEET THE NINJA U TEAM
Ninja U is owned by two local dads that had a big (crazy) dream to bring an American Ninja Warrior style gym to Cedar Falls & Ankeny
JACOB PAULI
(pronounced like Paul-eye)
Jacob is a dad to 4 kids (Wil, Julian, Violet, & Olive), a husband to Nikki, and pretty much a jack of all trades. The most impressive part is that he is the most decorated pole vaulter in the history of UNI’s track & field program. He earned a total of six All-American citations over his career, and in 2001 he captured the NCAA Indoor national title in the event. Jacob claimed six Missouri Valley Conference championships in the pole vault, earning him a spot on the MVC All-Centennial Team.
Following his successful career at UNI, he made an impact on the national scene, finishing fifth at the 2008 Olympic Trials and being selected as an alternate for the United States team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. As a member of the 2007 USA World Team, Jacob finished third at the outdoor USA Championships and fifth at the indoor USA Championships.
He also holds two Drake Relays crowns – one as a collegiate athlete and one as a professional. He still holds the indoor (18-07.75) and outdoor (18-06.50) school records in the pole vault. So yah, he was really good. And he’ll be just the coach to know how to push you to be your best at Ninja U.
SCOTT BEHRENDS
(pronounced like Bear-renz)
Scott has lived in Cedar Falls since he was 5 years old and probably will never leave. He married his high school sweetheart and has 3 kids. He attended UNI and studied Personal Training, but then changed his major to Computer Science. He keeps up with all things tech and has worked in IT since graduating.
Scott fell in love with ninja when he first saw American Ninja Warrior. It was the sport he always wished he had as a kid because #climber. (If you are a parent, you might know this type!) In 2016, his sons kept making obstacle courses in the backyard & timing themselves. Scott recorded them & uploaded one to YouTube. “Backyard Ninja Kids” was born, and it now has over 4,500 YouTube subscribers & over 7,000 Instagram followers. Scott and his sons (Ben & Jason), daughter (Lia), and wife (Lindsey) have enjoyed being part of the ninja community. Scott competed on 4 Seasons of American Ninja Warrior. In Season 11, he hit the buzzer in Tacoma City Qualifiers & moved onto Tacoma City Finals, where he placed 9th which qualified him to compete at the American Ninja Warrior Finals in Las Vegas. (Season 11: Episodes 04, 10, & 14). In Seasons 14, 15, & 16, he competed with his oldest son, Ben. He & Ben became the 1st Father/Son Duo to ever make it to Vegas Finals. His sons, Ben & Jason, also competed on American Ninja Warrior Junior Season 1. You find find them on episodes 14, 16, & 17.
All 7 of the Ninja U kids are so excited for you to come play!
OUR VISION
The dream is for Ninja U to be the kind of place that when you (or your kids) lay in bed, you are still thinking about how to conquer that obstacle or get a better time or how much fun you had. We want grandparents to bring their visiting grandchildren & local kids to become regulars. We want it to be a place that you can be…..be U, be brave, be-come stronger, & be-lieve you can do hard things!
NINJA U’s AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR ATHLETES
Scott Behrends
Owner & Ninja U Coach, American Ninja Warrior Season 11 (2019) Vegas Finalist, Season 14 (2022), Season 15 (2023) Vegas Finalist, & Season 16 (2024). Part of Backyard Ninja Kids
Chris Behrends
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, (Scott’s nephew), American Ninja Warrior Season 13 (2021), 14 (2022) Vegas Finalist (Fastest time in Qualifier!), & Season 16 (2024). Part of Ninja Teens
Levi Enright
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, (soon to be Chris’ cousin-in-law), American Ninja Warrior Season 13 (2021), 14 (2022) Vegas Finalist (Mega Wall Winner!), & Season 16 (2024). Part of Ninja Teens
Ben Behrends
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, (Scott’s son), American Ninja Warrior Season 14 (2022), Season 15 (2023) Vegas Finalist, Season 16 (2024) & American Ninja Warrior Jr Season 1 (2018). The Hype Guy
Jackson Twait
Trains at Ninja U Cedar Falls, “The Cat Daddy” from Hudson, IA, American Ninja Warrior Season 11 (2019), Season 12 (2020), Season 13 (2021), Mega Wall Winner, Season 14 (2022) Vegas Finalist, Season 15 (2023) Vegas Finalist, & Season 16 (2024)
Isaiah Barney
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, American Ninja Warrior Season 12 (2020) & 14 (2022)
Ella Sankey
American Ninja Warrior Season 14 (2022), Has been training at Ninja U since the day the Ninja U Cedar Falls opened, UNI student
Nate Person
Ninja U Ankeny Coach, former Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, American Ninja Warrior Season 15 (2023)
Drew Nester
Former Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach that now coaches at 605 NINJA – Obstacle Training Academy in SD, American Ninja Warrior Season 14 (2022) Vegas Finalist, & Season 16 (2024)
Tim Gallenbeck
Trains at Ninja U Cedar Falls, from Marion, IA, American Ninja Warrior Season 14 (2022) & Season 16 (2024)
Nick Hansen
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, American Ninja Warrior Season 13 (2021)
Jon Klippenstein
Former Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, UNI student, American Ninja Warrior Season 14 (2022), from Minnesota & also works at Conquer Ninja Gyms
Evelyn Schmitz
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, American Ninja Warrior Jr Season 2 (2019)
Jason Behrends
Ninja U Cedar Falls Coach, Scott’s middle child, American Ninja Warrior Junior Season 1 (2018), part of Backyard Ninja Kids