League News · 2026 Season

Two Carolina Flight Rookies Competed on American Ninja Warrior. Now They’re Coming to the Grid.

Mikail Jenkins and HaleiJo Fuller-Arroyo are joining the Carolina Flight as rookies in the 2026 Grid League season. They share a really a unique and impressive competitive background. Years on national television as Ninja Warriors and the drive to compete while raising kids.

Both make their first Grid League appearance when the Flight open their season on June 20th in Lakeland, Florida.

Mikail Jenkins

Mikail Jenkins lives in Lehi, Utah, where she works as Director of Client Services at a wealth management company, coaches CrossFit part-time, and runs her own fitness and nutrition coaching business. She found CrossFit in her early twenties, after her second child, when an activities credit at college turned into a life-changing pursuit.

“I fell in love with the sport and getting to compete again as an adult, and obviously with getting strong and healthy.”

That competitive drive took her deep into CrossFit for eight years before she set her sights on something new: bodybuilding. After her bodybuilding pursuit, she shifted focus this year to her half marathon.

“I am obsessed with discipline. If I am going to go after something I want to go all in. Anything I do, I want to make sure I know, no matter the outcome, that I did everything I possibly could.”

American Ninja Warrior

Jenkins applied for ANW on her own. Upper body strength has always been her specialty in CrossFit, and the show felt like a natural test of that. She did not expect to be selected.

“After the submission I heard from them months later, letting me know I made the show and would be flying out in two weeks.”

With the call came an unexpected welcome from the ninja community. The owner of her local ninja gym reached out immediately, brought her in to train, and for the next two weeks she worked alongside others who had also made the show.

Standing under the lights for the first time was something else entirely.

“This was honestly the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done. The pressure of all the lights and audience and the fact you only get one shot adds a lot of pressure. It honestly felt like a dream.”

Her run on the show ended on the very first obstacle. Coming off the shrinking steps, she grabbed the rope to swing across, swung too low, and her toe grazed the water. Immediate disqualification. Disappointing, but it did not change what she took from the experience.

“I realized that I can do anything I set my mind to. Any boundaries that we think we might have are just limits we are putting on ourselves.”

Coming to Grid

Jenkins had been interested in Grid League as far back as 2017 but the league paused before she got the chance. When it came back around, she submitted one video to the Grid League trials: the max handstand push-up challenge. Handstand push-ups are her biggest strength. Team owner Cody Loeffler reached out shortly after.

She will come into her first season strongest on the rig and in gymnastics-style movements: handstand push-ups, handstand walks, muscle-ups. The transitions and the specific intensity of Grid are where she is focusing her preparation.

“I love that with Grid I get to show off my biggest strengths.”

The Carolina Flight had their first training camp a few weeks ago. Their first match is in June.

Competing as a Mom

Jenkins has two kids and is up at 5am to train before the day begins. She learned early on that showing up for herself made her a better mother.

“I remember when I first started CrossFit and got home at 6am to my baby just waking up — I was always so much happier and ready to play with him.”

Her son recently told her that his favorite memory of her was watching her bodybuilding show. She was running on minimal food. He saw every bit of the work.

“That right there is my why. Kids pick up on that stuff. They learn from seeing it.”

To any mom who thinks her competitive window has passed, she has a clear answer.

“You are never too old to go after your dreams. You should never feel the mom guilt when you do something for yourself. I promise that your kids will be proud of you and they will get to witness such a powerful thing of getting to see their mom chase after her dreams.”

HaleiJo Fuller-Arroyo

HaleiJo Fuller-Arroyo lives in Winter Springs, Florida, and works as a chiropractic assistant. Her athletic resume spans weightlifting, CrossFit, Muay Thai, surfing, modeling, and Spartan racing, and a story that started, of all places, in a music practice room.

She was a music major in college, spending hours in a small room with her flute. She needed balance. A local boxing gym provided it. From there, a friend signed up for an obstacle course race which eventually led to Ninja Warrior which then led to CrossFit.

American Ninja Warrior

Fuller-Arroyo competed on ANW across four seasons, Seasons 9, 10, and 11. She kept coming back because the experience was genuinely fun, and the people made it worth returning to.

Standing at the starting line for the first time, the lights hit her before anything else.

“The lights were super bright which caught me off guard and they had a big TV screen for the audience. I remember looking over and seeing my face on a like 30-foot screen. What a jump scare.”

Her favorite moments on the course were the airborne obstacles, anything that required launching herself through the air.

“Any obstacle that I had to throw myself in the air felt like flying.”

What the show taught her about pressure she carries into every competition.

“Just gotta do it because it’s happening regardless. I learned to love the nerves.”

Training for ANW, and now for Grid, does not feel like training to her. The specificity of the movements makes the preparation feel like play.

“It feels a lot less like training when it’s so unique and more like I’m just at an adult playground. I get the same feeling with training the specific Grid movements. They are so different that it’s really easy to get obsessed with practicing. It’s honestly just fun.”

Coming to Grid

Cody Loeffler reached out to HaleiJo directly about joining the Carolina Flight. It was an easy yes. She had wanted to compete in Grid League for years and this season felt like the right time, coming back fresh after her pregnancy with son Landon.

Her first impression of Grid, years ago, had been immediate.

“This is amazing. How do I get to do this.”

She is going into her first season with one clear competitive instinct: speed.

“I like to go fast. I hate pacing, so I think that’s perfect for me.”

Fuller-Arroyo in competition: a barbell overhead and a kettlebell lunge.

The adjustment she is preparing for is the one-on-one race dynamic, staying in her own lane and focusing on her performance rather than reacting to a competitor.

Her body awareness, built across years of wildly different sports, is something she believes gives her a genuine edge in picking up new movements quickly.

She is most fired up for handstand walking with the med ball and anything involving box jumps.

Competing as a Mom

Before Landon, competing was just something she did. Motherhood shifted everything.

“After I wasn’t sure if I would want to continue to compete, but having the shift made me want to push harder.”

A tough pregnancy forced her to reset. Starting from zero turned out to be the clearest view she had ever had of what mattered.

“I don’t take my time for granted anymore. I don’t take the rush of competition for granted anymore either. Everything is very purposeful and a lot more meaningful than ever before.”

Balancing training with motherhood comes down to one thing: time. Landon comes with her everywhere. To the gym, on runs, to hair appointments. He sits in her lap. When he needs her, she stops. She rewarms up and starts over.

“There is just a lot more juggling.”

Landon comes with her everywhere, including the gym floor while she trains.

What it means to have him watch her compete is simple.

“It’s the most incredible thing in the world and gives me so much more purpose. I want to show him you can do anything you put your mind to.”

She gave herself grace after having Landon and did not rush back. That patience is what brought her here.

“Without the pressure of having to get back to it immediately, I made the natural decision to move forward but better than ever.”

Her message to any mom who feels like the window has closed is straightforward.

“It’s just the beginning. Grace is your best friend. The hard days make everything that much more sweet.”

Up Next

The Carolina Flight open their 2026 season on June 20th in Lakeland, Florida. Come see it in person!

Have a question? Email us at staff@unitedgridleague.com