TORRINGTON – First responders from across Goshen County, along with family and supporters, pushed their athleticism to the max in the inaugural first responders ninja warrior competition at the Goshen County Fair on Friday, August 2.

Sponsored by the Goshen County Sheriff Search and Rescue (Goshen County SSAR) the first responders’ tournament capped off a week of ninja warrior competitions at the fair, including youth championships on Wednesday. 

The fun and excitement were for a good cause as well. All proceeds from the ninja warrior contests went to fund the mission of Goshen County SSAR, said Tennille Grosz, SSAR volunteer and k-9 handler. The monies will be used in part to purchase a larger drone to benefit Goshen County and surrounding communities and provide cadaver dog training, Grosz added.

Goshen County SSAR decided to host a ninja warrior course after seeing a successful version of the event in Wheatland, Grosz said. Impact Ministries in Wheatland owned the equipment and lent it to search and rescue, she added.

Due to the wildland fires raging in the region, many first responders were unable to participate in Friday’s contest. As a result, family members, friends and other supporters filled out some of the teams, Grosz said.

The competition featured a Calcutta format, with donors bidding on their favorite teams.

Two champions from the youth tournament – Mick Gustman and Kaysen Stienmetz – gave a demonstration of the course before the first responder’s competition began. The course was a maze of difficult obstacles, ladders, ropes and rings with a steep slope to scramble up at the end. 

Officials timed each team and the squad clocking in with the fastest time took top honors (see below).

In spite of a few mild bruises from the challenging course, Goshen County’s first responders ninja warrior competition went without a hitch and proved a success.

“We wanted to bring something fun for the kids during fair week,” Grosz said. “This was a great fundraising week (for Goshen County SSAR) and a really fun event to organize. We hope to do it again next year.”

Results

Team Dry Lightening, representing the Prairie Center Volunteer Fire Department, snagged first place with a time of 1 minute, 55 seconds. The team consisted of Cody Taylor and Collin Taylor.

Second place accolades went to the team If You Know You Know with a time of 2:00. The team represented the Torrington Police Department and included Kaiden Riggs and Anthony Arnusch. 

Prairie Center Volunteer Fire Department Team No. 2 – B.W. Ochsner and Terra Ochsner – took third place. Taylor Walters and Michael Schuler of the Torrington Volunteer Team No. 2 secured fourth place.