AMERICAN GLADIATORS
Source: NBC Entertainment
May 9, 2008 - 11:54:15 AM
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BURBANK, Calif. – May 8, 2008 – NBC announced today the forty fearless new
contenders who will face-off against the unstoppable American Gladiators when
the hit series returns for its second cycle on Monday, May 12 (8-10 p.m. ET).
Celebrating the everyday, true American heroes -- weekend warriors who
excel and take pride in their physical fitness -- the 40 contenders will go up
against the show's Gladiators, charismatic and eclectic warriors -- in the
ultimate David & Goliath battle. Each contender will have a unique story to
tell and a compelling reason why they want to win. These unsung heroes combine
brawn and heart in their effort to be worthy competitors. From a Paralympic
athlete, to police officers, to military veterans, this cycle's contenders truly
embody what it means to be a hero in and out of Gladiator Arena. Cycle two also
features twins and married couples for the first time, all trying to show they
have what it takes to win the ultimate prize of $100,000.
The male
contenders are:
Randee Haynes is a 25-year-old carpenter from Chicago,
Illinois. He hails from a family of 13 kids whose names all begin with "R." He
admires and appreciates his parents, and as a father of two, strives to be half
the father his dad was. Haynes' silly and lovable demeanor proves that you don't
have to train hard to be a good athlete.
Jesus Jay Martinez is a
40-year-old SWAT officer from Perth Amboy, New Jersey. As a former U.S. Marine,
he became best of the best by working recon in some of the toughest deployments
available. Martinez continues to stay in great shape by teaching martial arts.
Although rugged and raw, he is the ultimate family man to his wife and two
children.
John Siciliano is a 37-year-old Paralympic athlete from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A former college athlete, Siciliano lost his leg in a
car accident. He went through lengthy rehab and showed great determination to
become a Paralympic athlete. Siciliano wants to show the world that anyone can
succeed, despite disability. He currently works as a product specialist for
Endolite, a prosthetic manufacturer.
Gerry Garcia is a 27-year-old
special education teacher and martial arts masters student. His parents
emigrated from the Philippines and worked day and night to provide for their
family. Garcia began hanging out with the wrong crowd and soon found himself in
juvenile hall. It was then that he turned his life around. He is now a business
major, a mentor to troubled teens and a teacher to kids with autism. Garcia
lives in Long Beach, California.
David Moore is a 31-year-old police
officer from Chicago, Illinois. He is a true family man who does everything for
his son and wife. Moore is a health nut who believes in staying fit and eating
right. He loves to joke around with his buddy Melvin Davis, a fellow police
officer and contender on this cycle of "American Gladiators."
Melvin
Davis is a 42-year-old cop that has been in the Chicago Police Department for
fifteen years. He became a cop to help the community and give back, and he loves
his work. He has also been a bodyguard for actress Jennifer Hudson. He currently
lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Toby Gordin is a 31-year-old from Memphis,
Tennessee who helps run his family's grocery store. This father of two is in
love with his family and wakes up at four a.m. to work out so he can be at home
after work to cook for his family. This tough guy loves interior decorating and
was once a competitive college cheerleader.
Brick Reilly is a
27-year-old tree climber from Springfield, New Jersey. He was born deaf and has
always deemed athletics an important escape from the realities of life. Though
Reilly recently had a cochlear implant which gave him the ability to hear, he
never used his disability as an excuse in his life. He works as a mentor for
deaf children in the New Jersey area.
Landon Jones is a 26-year-old
medical device salesman from Littleton, Colorado. This high school athlete
survived the Columbine shootings and it changed his life. As he continued his
athletic and scholastic career at Colorado State, he started a ministry to help
kids who need guidance. Professionally he sells drills and saws that are used in
neuro-surgery.
Tony Tolbert is a 36-year-old science teacher from
Denver, Colorado. Tolbert chose a different route than that of his brother and
father. While they preferred "manly sports" like football, Tolbert excelled in
cheerleading and gymnastics. This father of two believes that being a positive
role model is the most important thing a man can do. He is dedicating his
"American Gladiators" experience to his mother, who recently passed.
Adam Hill is a 40-year-old ER doctor from Denver, Colorado. He decided
to go into medicine after his dad suffered a head injury from racecar driving.
His father recovered due to excellent care, but working in the ER, Hill knows
all too well how helpful money could be to those without proper healthcare. If
he wins American Gladiators, he says he will donate all the money to a charity
benefiting people without proper healthcare.
Mike Gamble is a
29-year-old who grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Hollywood, California.
He is a multi-faceted artist who works as dance choreographer, special events
producer, fitness trainer and media consultant. As the youngest of five
siblings, Gamble has always done what he's wanted. He is living his dream and
feels that people need to get out of their comfort zones and live life.
James Ruggiero is a 27-year-old high school English teacher from Yucca
Valley, California. This father of two is a true family man who has looked up to
his brother his whole life. After almost dying from a massive head injury
playing football, Ruggiero pulled his life together and shed 65 unwanted pounds.
He spends time at the Boys and Girls Club mentoring kids.
Sean
Hetherington is a 29-year-old waiter and personal trainer from West Hollywood,
California. Hetherington was an unhealthy 275 pounds when he decided to change
his life. He hired a personal trainer and lost 100 pounds in less than two
years. The obstacles he has been faced with have given him confidence and
determination, and he has the attitude that there is nothing he can't do.
Alejandro Soto is a 24-year-old war veteran from El Cajon, CA and is now
a dolphin trainer for the U.S. Navy Marine mammal program. Family is a very
important part of life for Soto and his older brother Jorge who is currently
fighting testicular cancer. Soto wants to bring notice to this disease and make
sure people know how to diagnose it sooner.
Tim Oliphant is a
33-year-old media director for Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Missouri. He loves
working with kids, is very religious, and believes his father is a hero.
Oliphant is a very likable guy who loves competition and is always looking for a
challenge, whether it is joining a choir just to try it or running a marathon
without training.
Alexander Coats is a 26-year-old mortgage consultant
from Jacksonville, Florida. As a marine, he was injured in Iraq by a grenade and
suffered massive injuries. Coats was told he may never walk without a cane, but
through pure will forced himself to learn to walk and run, even with shrapnel
throughout his body. He is in great shape and ready to show that he has bounced
back from the pain.
Anthony Pagnotta is a 35-year-old NYPD Detective
from Farmingdale, New York. Although humble about his many awards and
achievements, he was deeply involved in the early days of the 9/ll relief
effort, spending the first three days of the tragedy on the scene.
Aaron
Simpson is married to fellow contender Kendra Sirignano. He hails from Tempe,
Arizona. Aaron is a 33-year-old wrestling coach. The father of a12-year-old
foster child, he is now awaiting the birth of his twins by an unexpected
surrogate mother – his wife's 51-year-old mom.
Jeff Davidson is married
to fellow contender Ally Davidson. He is a 29-year old financial advisor from
Dallas, Texas. Unknown to Jeff, his wife tried out for American Gladiators on
her wedding day in her wedding veil. He and his wife make one very athletic team
and will give the Gladiators a tough fight.
The female contenders are:
Melissa Trinidad is a 30-year-old children's martial arts instructor.
She is a certified black belt who grew up a "military brat." Trinidad rebelled
against her strict parents while growing up and, is now a single mom herself.
Though only 5'1, Trinidad is extremely focused and one of the most determined
contenders. She currently lives in Brandon, Florida.
Elena Maskalik is a
22-year-old firefighter who currently resides in Foster City, California. She
emigrated from Ukraine after she and her family evacuated after the Chernobyl
tragedy. She is grateful she had the opportunity to leave and feels she owes it
all to her parents. Maskalik grew up in San Jose where she excelled in martial
arts and wrestling. She is now a member of the San Jose Fire Department.
Vanessa Warren is a 35-year-old U.S. Air Force Major. She was also a
Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. Warren says she is particularly
hard on female recruits because she is sick of the stereotype that women are
weak. She is also a group fitness instructor for "Moms in Motion," a national
group which trains women and gets them involved in charity work. She currently
lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Nikki Key is a 27-year-old
bartender and fitness model from Queens, New York. She grew up learning
theatrical dance and moved to Los Angeles to learn hip-hop. She has been dancing
her entire life and toured with famous pop stars. Key is an overachiever who
will always push herself to be the best. She was raised by her mother, who she
considers her best friend.
Abbe Dorn is a 28-year-old police officer in
Denver, Colorado. She is also a body builder and former fitness model. She would
love the chance to compete against her best friend Vicki Ferrari, a fellow
Denver police officer and contender in this cycle's American Gladiators. Abbe
currently lives in Centennial Park, Colorado.
Vicki Ferrari is a
35-year-old narcotics officer from Denver, Colorado. She comes from a police
family (her husband is a cop as well). Nicknamed "pitbull" by the guys at the
precinct, Vicki is charming and easygoing with a lightening-quick temper. She is
best friends with contender and police officer Abbe Dorn.
De Day is a
29-year-old full-time mom from Siesta Key, Florida. This mother of two has three
priorities in life: family, God and fitness. Her hobbies include running
long-distance "adventure" races that include mountain climbing, fording rivers
and other rough-terrain activities. She is coming to "American Gladiators" to go
fast, go hard and prove there is power in prayer.
Tiffaney Florentine is
a 25-year-old business consultant from Royal Oak, Michigan. After caring for her
ailing father in 2001, Florentine felt her life needed a new direction when he
passed. She joined the U.S. Air Force, spent six years in the military police,
and even served a brief stint in the CIA before settling back into civilian life
as a business consultant. She believes the tough times she's been though have
only made her stronger.
Chaunda (Shonda) Mason is a 28-year-old actress
and model from North Hollywood, California. Tough and courageous, she is a
5-year U.S. Army veteran and single mother. Though very athletic, Mason believes
her time in the Army as a peacekeeper made her even more of an athlete.
Rochelle Gilken is a 27-year-old crime reporter from West Palm Beach,
Florida. Gilken has seen the dark side of West Palm Beach for years, and is
ready for anything. She goes by the name "Little Rocky," due to her love of
boxing.
Jessica Garcia is a 25-year-old cheerleading coach from the
Bronx, New York. She put on 60 lbs in college and realized she was not the
person she wanted to be. Garcia has worked hard to shed the weight and now
coaches cheer in her old neighborhood, the Bronx, where she hopes to set up a
cheer center for kids to pursue their dreams.
Patricia Franklin is a
41-year-old mother of four from Leesburg, Virginia . She was Top 10 in the
"Women's Tri-Fitness" obstacle course competition 4 years in a row and was 1st
place in the "Nova Strength Competition". As a nurse for nineteen years, and a
mother for seventeen, Franklin is quite busy taking care of others.
Annie Castellano is a 20-year-old Columbia College student originally
from Stoneham, Massachusetts, who spends her vacations working at her family's
seafood restaurant in Florida. Her constantly upbeat, bubbly personality, and
sky-high energy level is in direct contrast to her diminutive, 4-foot, 11-inch
frame. What Castellano lacks in height, she more than makes up for in
confidence.
Yoko Ohigashi, originally from Brea, California, is a
52-year-old team manager in investment at a brokerage firm in Irvine, CA. She
claims to have a "fire inside that is going to take the whole world by
surprise." Ohigashi is looking to live life to the fullest, and burning the
Gladiators is at the top of the list.
Adriana Posadas is a 23-year-old
school chemical engineering student from Anaheim, California. This classical
beauty has overcome a lot of family struggles. Posadas wanted to get into
pharmaceuticals to help her mom who has struggled with cancer. She is a mentally
tough individual as well as incredibly polite and sweet. Posadas really enjoys
getting into the spirit of competition and feels this will be a fantastic
personal achievement.
Tatum Yount is a 26-year-old competitive figure
skater and marathon/triathlon runner from Manhattan Beach, California. She is a
world-ranked figure skater, who has fearlessly battled scoliosis since age 12.
Smart and beautiful, Yount is the epitome of a well-disciplined athlete.
Lillian Thomassen and Clinessa Burch are 27-year-old twin sisters who
are both in the concrete business. Thomassen is a concrete artist and Burch owns
a concrete business with her husband. The twins enjoy engaging in any kinds of
sports and are very competitive against each other. Both sisters currently
reside in California – Lillian in San Luis Obispo and Clinessa in Los Osos.
Kendra Sirignano is married to fellow contender Aaron Simpson. 30-year
old Sirignano is a social worker. She is mother to a 12-year-old foster child
and is now awaiting the birth of her twins by an unexpected surrogate mother –
her 51-year-old mother. Strong and fit, she is a contender to reckon with.
Ally Davidson is married to fellow contender Jeff Davidson. Hailing from
Dallas, Texas. she is a 24-year-old sales representative. Ally tried out for
American Gladiators on her wedding day in her wedding veil, a move that her more
conservative husband probably wouldn't have approved had he known. Ally once
broke her neck in a nearly fatal skiing accident. She has made a full recovery
and is a ready to take on the competition.
"American Gladiators" is
produced by MGM Television (original series producers) and Reveille (NBC's "The
Office" and "The Biggest Loser," "Nashville Star," "Ugly Betty"). Reveille's
Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens and David A. Hurwitz ("Fear Factor") are the
executive producers alongside Flor-Jon, Films Inc.'s Johnny Ferraro, original
series creator.
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