Stephenie LaGrossa

Stephenie LaGrossa is a contestant from Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. She finished in 7th, 2nd and 19th respectively.

Despite her physical strength, Stephenie would soon suffer at the hands of ill-fated Ulong, where she would become the sole surviving member of her tribe. Upon returning for a second time, she became more deceptive and known for not keeping her deals, despite all this she is remembered mainly for her participation in Palau, returning for a third time as a heroine.

Profile
One of five siblings born to Stephen and Marguerite, Stephenie LaGrossa is the youngest and only girl of the family to grow up in Briarcliff, Glenolden, a suburb of Philadelphia. She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School, where she played varsity lacrosse, field hockey and swimming. After graduating, she attended Temple University in Philadelphia before transferring to Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey. She played Division One Lacrosse at both universities and was a four-year starter. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and management. She currently works as a territory sales representative for a pharmaceutical sales company and bartends part-time.

LaGrossa enjoys yoga, Pilates, water sports and going to the beach. She describes herself as relentless, persuasive, extremely competitive, dramatic and friendly. She is most proud of being offered athletic and academic scholarships to two different universities and purchasing her own home when she was 23 years old. An avid lacrosse player in college, LaGrossa won many awards signifying her outstanding athleticism and leadership. At Monmouth University, she was the team captain her senior year, made the NEC Academic Honor Roll and the Dean's List. In addition, LaGrossa was a three-time NEC All-Conference selection, NEC Scholar/Athlete Award recipient and Female Athlete of the Year Nominee.

LaGrossa is currently an active member of the Monmouth University Blue and White Club and continually involves herself with local high schools and Monmouth University to help coach local clinics.

LaGrossa has been dating her boyfriend, Michael, for six years. She lives in Tom's River, New Jersey. Her birth date is December 6, 1979.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
The producers have deemed LaGrossa's "heroic" showing in Palau more memorable than her more "villainous" game approach in Guatemala, thus placing her in the Heroes tribe in the 10th anniversary/20th season Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

During the first round of the first Reward Challenge, Stephenie accidentally dislocated her shouler (a problem that she has revealed in interviews is that recently, she easily dislocate her shoulder in strenous activities). It recquired medical help from the Survivor medics and successfully returned it back into place, but not serious enough to evacuate her from the game.

LaGrossa became an outsider early on in the game. After the elimination of Sugar Kiper, a majority alliance consisted of James Clement, Rupert Boneham, Amanda Kimmel, J.T. Thomas, Cirie Fields and Candice Woodcock was formed. With this, Stephenie's Palau castmate, former winner Tom Westman and Survivor: The Australian Outback alum Colby Donaldson, they created an alliance out of necessity.

During the second Immunity Challange, Stephenie was accused of being non-cooperative to the team while building a puzzle, to the point of Clement fumed at her to listen to tribemate J.T. Thomas, who had done the same challenge in his own season. The debacle between James and Stephenie carried over at camp and at Tribal Council. In the end, the Heroes majority alliance eliminated her in a 6-3 vote.

Post-Survivor
Stephenie married high school history teacher Michael Ward on July 7th 2006. 8 other survivors attended including Tom Westman and Rafe Judkins. The two eventually divorced. In November 13, 2010, Stephenie married again, this time to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick.

Trivia

 * In a post season interview for Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Stephenie expressed her discontent in how James viewed her as weakness to the team just because her team all got eliminated except for her in Palau and she also said that that only meant that she was a strong player not that she was bad luck.
 * Stephenie is the first of two female players to compete in two seasons back to back, the other being Amanda Kimmel.
 * Stephenie is the only castaway to be affiliated with two tribes in Palau.
 * Stephenie was the first Hispanic-American castaway to become a Runner-Up in a Survivor season. She would later be followed by Ozzy Lusth in Survivor: Cook Islands and Susie Smith in Survivor: Gabon.
 * In all of Stephenie's three seasons, she has started out on the blue tribe.
 * Stephenie's dislocated shoulder in Heroes vs. Villains marked the earliest injury in any season.
 * Stephanie's appearance on Heroes vs. Villains was her first time playing on an All-Stars season. Unlike the other 3-time contestants who had all played with other All-Stars.