Ex-Miss Taunton chases a dream all the way to American Ninja Warrior stage

TAUNTON — Former Miss Massachusetts Lyndsey Littlefield is now Miss American Ninja Warrior.

It says so on her bright-red competition shirt: “Miss ANW,” below that an image of her home state of Massachusetts with a Ninja Warrior, presumably Littlefield, dangling from the far southwestern corner of the state.

But it’s not just a shirt. In fact, Littlefield is set to appear, and compete, on Season 14, Episode 2 of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior this Monday night, June 13 at 8 p.m.

The Taunton native, former Miss Taunton and current science teacher at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School traveled to San Antonio, Texas and the 64,000-seat Alamodome in March to film and compete for the episode, and following that experience, an NBC film crew visited for more filming in the local area, including a stop at Littlefield’s B-R classroom.

“Think about, you know, back in your high school experience, what was the most memorable thing?” Littlefield said. “For some of these students it's going to be the time that they got to be on NBC dissecting a frog with me, and I think that's so cool.”

Enthusiasm has been high among friends, family and local residents, but Littlefield says her students are among her biggest supporters, and when she got word NBC would be coming to town for a larger segment, Littlefield was thrilled to be able to include her students in the experience.

“After I came home they actually sent a film crew out to me, to do like a background story. So if when you watch Monday night you're gonna see, I think, you'll see a little bit from my parents, but what I'm more excited about is that you're actually gonna see my students. That's so cool for them to have that opportunity. That was like my number one thing when the producer called me.

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“He's like, ‘Hey, just wanna let you know you're in the episode.’ And I said, ‘That's great. Are my students in it too?’

“Yeah, that’s what I was more concerned about, because I just think that’s so cool.”

Never give up

For Littlefield, getting to the big stage and American Ninja Warrior was twice delayed in heartbreaking fashion.

In 2020, Littlefield was selected as an ANW rookie, but the competition was canceled when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Then, in 2021, the day she learned she’d have a second shot at ANW she went down with a knee injury during a National Ninja League event, an ACL tear requiring surgery and months of rehab and recovery.

A third chance was remote, but Littlefield kept chasing.

And chasing led to another chance.

In late March, it was off to Texas.

“Just super surreal,” said Littlefield, recalling the scene from Logan Airport when things got real and came into focus.

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“It was so, like, what's the right word? I guess like dream chasing… like, that moment where you cross the finish line of a marathon. Like, alright, I'm finally here, it's finally happening. It's meant to be, this is what dreams are made of, that type of thing.

“I remember getting to the airport and I was actually walking with my bags to the terminal and I was just like, ‘Wow, this is actually happening,’ and I think that's kind of like where my mindset was all weekend long while I was competing.”

Wardrobe, photos, filming, interviews

Filming and competing was a whirlwind weekend. Littlefield, accustomed to the spotlight and long days required of the entertainment industry, was at once prepared and awed.

The first day consisted of a COVID check and some administrative details, but from there the fun began, with wardrobe and photos.

“You feel like a celebrity because you have to put on your competition wardrobe and you hold up your number and they take your photo with it, and they check out your wardrobe and whatnot. I mean, you really start to feel like a little celebrity in that moment,” she said.

The next day was dedicated to filming footage for potential use in the episode. And it should be pointed out that not all competitors are destined to make the final edit.

“Filming is so much fun,” Littlefield said. “You get to stand on a little turntable and they'll spin you and they're like, ‘alright, flex a muscle,’ ‘now point to the crown,’ ‘now give us a funny dance move.’ And you're doing all these cool things for the cameras and you feel like you're a celebrity, which is super cool.”

Finally, a lengthy interview provided Littlefield with a chance to relax and be herself.

“The interview was fun,” she said. “I've done a lot of interviews before, but to actually just sit there and it’s not like a job or pageant interview was a different experience for me. Usually, I’m Miss Littlefield in an interview, or Miss Massachusetts in an interview, so it was really cool to be like authentically, this is Lyndsey, you know, the gym rat. So that was a whole new side of my life and I really liked it.”

Tackling the course at the Alamodome

The final day was competition day.

“Walking into the Alamodome was like walking into Disney World the first time, you're just like mouth open, eyes wide, absolutely amazed. The place is huge. Oh, my gosh, it does not look that big on TV, but it is so big.”

Littlefield traveled to Texas with a group of about 20 competitors from Massachusetts, a handful of them friends and training partners, and once there joined a community of first-time, or rookie, competitors from around the country. She says at most Ninja Warrior events, like those with the National Ninja League, the warriors generally keep to themselves and stay focused on competing and a strong finish needed to qualify for higher-level events.

But during the filming of American Ninja Warrior, the field of competitors felt more like a community, even family, with racers talking strategy, sharing tips and pointers and pulling for each person who stepped up to the course.

“It was a very tough course. I will say that for my rookie season it was something that, you know, as competitors were going on and other rookies were going before me I was like, oh, my gosh, this is so intense.

“But at the same time, it was not like a normal competition. Normally when I go to competitions for Ninja War, it's not like a cutthroat situation, but it's more of like you're very to yourself, you're very in your zone, very competitive, you know, you really don't talk to other people about your plan you kind of keep it to yourself.

“On American Ninja Warrior, that goes all out the window. Everybody is like, ‘Hey, what are you doing? This is what I'm doing.’ We're sharing ideas. We're brainstorming different ways to tackle things or watching other competitors."

Being the first round of ANW competition, all the warriors are looking to win, or last least qualify for the next round, but Littlefield said there was no harm in supporting friends and/or rivals.

“Everybody is very community, family friendly, and so we all want each other to succeed. It wasn't so much I want to win but it was like I want to see you, you and me to succeed at the same time. Yeah, so I think that that was like a whole different world for me. And honestly it made the experience sometimes more enjoyable.

“I got to compete with my friends but it didn't feel like we're in a competition. It just felt like we all had this epic chance at winning some great money.”

From one ninja to the next

The results from American Ninja Warrior Season 14, Episode 2 won’t be known until Monday night’s airing, but whatever the results Littlefield, in her third attempt, succeeded in getting there, and had the experience of a lifetime.

She encourages her students, or anyone who needs the advice or inspiration, to just keep at it, no matter what it is.

“I would just keep saying, if I could leave anything out on the table for my students to pick up, or really anybody, just keep chasing your dreams. It doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter… if you wanna do it, just put your heart into it and do it.

“And the people who will surround you and support you are going to always be there for you. So put your trust in them, and go out there and do it no matter how crazy the dream is.”

Taunton Daily Gazette staff writer Jon Haglof can be reached at jhaglof@tauntongazette.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Miss Taunton Lyndsey Littlefield to appear on American Ninja Warrior