PADUCAH, Ky. -- The latest season of American Ninja Warrior is in the books, and a Local 6 native could be featured on the next season, which begins filming in Las Vegas in late September.

Crab Orchard, Illinois native Caleb Vaughn received the call that he'll be competing in season 17 of American Ninja Warrior.

Something that Vaughn has wanted to do since he was a kid.

"My dad has been a rock climber for the last 30 some odd years now so ever since I was like 6 years old, he's had the rock climbing shoes on," Vaughn said. "When I was 16, I was able to talk my parents into letting my build a ninja warrior course in their backyard. It was about 15-16 feet high then we built all the obstacles by hand."

Vaughn says the obstacle course came with no crash pads, so naturally there were plenty of bumps and bruises, but that didn't stop the tenacious 16 year old.

Just 3 years after building the course, he got to compete in American Ninja Warrior City Qualifiers in Indianapolis.

It was there he met Tenacity Training owner and fellow Ninja Nicole Griffin.

"American Ninja Warrior season 10 was probably my most memorable season on the show for myself," Griffin said. "I made it to city finals that year... When [Caleb] and his wife moved back to Paducah, he reached out and I was like yes, I will take a seasoned ninja as a coach."

While Nicole made it to the city finals in season 10, Caleb's run ended in the qualifying round.

"The first time I did it I had a pretty epic fall on the balance obstacle, so the last 5 years has kinda been replaying in my mind," Vaughn said. "To have a second opportunity to know I've prepared more and to get to go have fun with a lot of friends out there it's just going to be unbelievable."

In between his two American Ninja Warrior appearances, Caleb played college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, eventually playing professionally for the Owensboro Thoroughbreds.

He's now coaching basketball at his alma mater at Crab Orchard High School, in addition to training for qualifiers in Las Vegas on September 29.

As Caleb looks for redemption this time around, Nicole believes he's ready for the bright lights in Las Vegas.

"Dude, I am super excited, I think that this could seriously be Caleb's season to really shine," Griffin said. "I think his maturity level at this stage in his life is right on par for him having probably one of his most memorable seasons."