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Mar 19, 2023

Chick

By Ivan Aronin | on May 19, 2023 Anyone ordering a chicken sandwich and

By Ivan Aronin | on May 19, 2023

Anyone ordering a chicken sandwich and waffle fries at Chick-fil-A in Murfreesboro may have it put together by an American Ninja Warrior.

Benjamin Drake of Murfreesboro competed in the upcoming season of NBC's competition show, and his episode is scheduled to air this summer.

Drake, 18, was cheered on by his family at the episode's filming in Los Angeles about a month ago. His sister, Rachel Beth, 20, even got to send him off with a hug at the starting line of the obstacle course that requires vertical strength and agility and navigating equipment over water.

A film crew for the television series followed Drake at his job at Chick-fil-A on Memorial Boulevard in Murfreesboro on Thursday, May 18 to get his backstory for the episode.

Drake said he submitted an application to be on the show which included video clips of him doing various types of training last December. Within a month, producers for the show contacted him, and by the end of January, he got word that he had been chosen to compete.

"It didn't even feel real," Drake said. "When I got the call from American Ninja Warrior, I didn't even know what to say. I was with my family at the time, and we were all so excited."

Drake said he has been watching American Ninja Warrior with his grandfather since he was a kid. He started doing American Ninja Warrior training about five years ago when the rock climbing gym he attended added obstacle course training similar to the show.

"To train for American Ninja Warrior, you don't know exactly what the course is going to be, so you’ve got to train about every skill you can think of," Drake said.

Drake said he even has a secret weapon: one arm pullups.

"You don't realize how much strength you need in one arm just to save yourself if you’re going to fall, so I practice a lot of one arm pullups," he said.

Contestants compete for $1 million grand prize by racing through a course made up of obstacles with names like "Pole Vault," "Greased Lightning" and "The Getaway."

His strategy going into the course? Have a good time and keep a calm mindset.

He's been able to hone his skills at keeping calm as a drive-thru worker at Chick-fil-A, where he started working last August.

"If the screens are looking a little busy, you’ve got to take a deep breath, chill out, catch back up," Drake said. "I do the same thing on the course."

Chick-fil-A Operator Beau Noblitt said he's glad to hear that skills Drake picked up at work have translated into successes in other facets of his life.

"We’re always busy, and so, yes, they have to learn how to deal with a lot of things going on at one time," Nobliltt said. "So they need to be able to stay calm in the moment and process one thing at a time."

Noblitt said he's impressed with the level of discipline Drake has shown for his young age.

"I think (being on the show) takes a lot of maturity on his part, a lot of effort, a lot of discipline, so I think he's doing a great thing," Noblitt said.

Drake said his biggest support through the process has been his grandfathers, who helped him build an American Ninja Warrior training course in his backyard.

Drake said he doesn't expect to win the entire competition, but he just wants to make everyone, including his coworkers, proud.

"My coworkers have been so supportive about it, so excited," Drake said. "They can't wait to watch me on the show."

American Ninja Warrior Season 15 premieres June 5 at 7 p.m. on NBC. A date for Drake's episode has not yet been announced.