Queen Creek student gives 'Wheel’ a spin

Queen Creek medical student Jennifer Grimes was given a once-in-a-lifetime experience in October to solve puzzles and win money on her favorite game show, “Wheel of Fortune.” The episode featuring Grimes will air at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on KNXV Channel 15, during Wheel of Fortune’s Pet Lovers Week.

Grimes lives with her two Shiba Inu dogs, Harley and Mika, a rescued cat, Isis, and her boyfriend, Shane Ramsey, a Gilbert firefighter.

Although she can’t say how she did, Grimes said she did well, and based on the photos sent from the studio, she won at least one round after landing on the million dollar wedge for a chance to win a million dollars.

“I was just excited to win anything,” said Grimes, 33, who’s studying to be a respiratory therapist at Pima Medical Institute in Mesa. “There’s some skill, but if you don’t get a chance to play, tough luck. I just wanted to solve one puzzle.”

Grimes got the chance to try out for the long-running show, known as “America’s Game,” at a Wheelmobile event in Scottsdale earlier this year. It was the second time in five years she’s tried her luck at getting on the show.

Although her name wasn’t picked from a random drawing to try out for the game show in Scottsdale, Grimes was called a couple of months later for the second audition in Phoenix.

At this audition, she played a mock game, solved a puzzle and won a “Wheel of Fortune” canvas tote bag. From the group of about 150 people, she was among the narrowed-down group of about 15 people. She had to take a timed written test to solve half-filled out puzzles and line up to pretend to spin the wheel and tell her story.

“I thought I blew it because I didn’t say enough about myself,” said Grimes, a server for Brio Tuscan Grille in Gilbert and a former photographer for the East Valley Tribune.

In July, she got another call saying she was chosen to be on the show sometime in the next 18 months. Then in September, she got a call saying she was to report for a taping on Oct. 14.

Grimes drove out to the Sony Studios in Culver City, Calif., with her parents, Steve and Joanne Grimes, of Cave Creek. She wanted her parents there to support her because she grew up watching the show with them while growing up in Payson.

“During the show I kept thinking, I hope my dad doesn’t already know the answer to the puzzle,” said Grimes, who graduated from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix with a double major in theater and communications.

Joanne Grimes said she is so excited to see Thursday’s show, and is planning to invite some friends over.

“Oh my gosh, we can’t wait,” said Joanne Grimes, a retired Safeway non-foods manager. “It was very exciting, breathtaking and nerve-wracking.”

The day of the show, a shuttle bus picked up Jennifer at 7:15 a.m. at a nearby hotel with a bunch of other contestants. Each day, “Wheel of Fortune” tapes six shows, and Grimes was chosen to be in the fourth show of the day.

She also rolled for her spot along the wheel and got third place, which is the spot she wanted.

Before the taping, the contestants were getting tips and strategies from the contestant coordinators when they were surprised by puzzle board presenter and co-host Vanna White, who “literally” jumped into their room and said, “Don’t forget to tell them to buy vowels.”

Grimes said she almost didn’t recognize White because she was dressed so casually.

“It lifted the mood and helped release our tension,” Grimes said. “I was so nervous.”

She doesn’t remember much of her show taping, so she’s looking forward to watching “Wheel of Fortune” on Thursday with a big group of friends.

“It got easier as time went by, but it was such a blur,” Grimes said. “I was just so excited to be on the show. Before (the taping) I thought about my posture, how I looked and to keep smiling, but once the show started, that was all gone.”

To register and sign up to be a contestant on “Wheel of Fortune,” visit www.wheeloffortune.com.