Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick/Guatemala

Stephenie Danielle LaGrossa^[1] is a contestant from Survivor: Guatemala.

After surviving the destruction of the Ulong tribe in Palau, Stephenie returned alongside her tribemate Bobby Jon Drinkard in Guatemala. Finally afforded the opportunity to play in the driver's seat, Stephenie took a more strategically aggressive approach to the game, being more deceptive and ruthless. Her cutthroat gameplay earned her the ire of the jury, causing her to lose to Danni Boatwright in a 6-1 vote.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

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.^[2]

Survivor[]

Stephenie started the game on the Yaxhá tribe, which started a short losing streak. She was immediately afraid of her past Survivor experience recurring, but Yaxhá won the next Immunity Challenge. Stephenie built strong bonds with Rafe Judkins and Jamie Newton. During a surprise tribe switch, her, Rafe, Jamie, and Lydia Morales were switched to Nakúm, which also consisted of four original Nakúm members. Stephenie and Jamie convinced Judd Sergeant to flip on his former tribe and vote out Brooke Struck. Stephenie's new tribe continued to win immunity, only going to Tribal Council and eliminating Margaret Bobonich because of a double Tribal Council twist.

Stephenie's alliance, which consisted of her, Rafe, Jamie, Lydia, Judd, and Cindy Hall entered the merge with numbers over the new Yaxhá tribe. After promising Bobby Jon Drinkard a spot on the jury, Stephenie and her alliance voted out Brandon Bellinger and then Bobby Jon himself after Gary Hogeboom played a Hidden Immunity Idol. Instead of continuing to eliminate the rival alliance, Rafe wanted to blindside Jamie for being paranoid and wanting to go the Final Two with Judd. Stephenie reluctantly agreed and aided in voting her close ally out. Judd was shocked but maintained his loyalty. The alliance was then back on track and voted out Gary, leaving Danni Boatwright as the only remaining alliance member left.

After a Survivor Auction where Danni bought an advantage to the Immunity Challenge, Judd bought the family reward and invited Stephenie, Cindy, and their respective loved ones on it. Stephenie promised Judd's wife that she would go to the Final Two with him. Danni won individual immunity, forcing Stephenie to eliminate another member of her own alliance. She decided to vote off Judd, citing his multiple lies as justification. After he was blindsided, he was clearly angry, and another ally Stephenie burned.

Cindy was not informed of the Judd blindside and felt vulnerable. After she kept a car reward for herself rather than giving a car to Stephenie, Rafe, Lydia, and Danni and then picking Stephenie to go on reward with her, Rafe was angry. He made a pact with Danni to go to the final three with her, and when Stephenie returned from the reward, Rafe informed her that he wanted to eliminate Cindy. Cindy was then voted out, and Stephenie took most of the heat again.

At the final four, Rafe wanted to stay true to his bond with Danni and eliminate Lydia. Stephenie thought Danni was a bigger threat, but did not want to upset her closest ally, Rafe, and helped him in voting her out. Danni won the Final Immunity Challenge, and Rafe released her of her promise to bring him to the Final Two. Danni brought Stephenie, which angered Rafe. Stephenie only received Rafe's vote and was named runner-up to Danni.

Episode	Tribe Affiliation	Challenge	Challenge Type	Sit-Out?	Result
1	Yaxhá	11-Mike Hike	Reward	No	Lost
1		Paddle Battle	Immunity	No	Won
2		Web Over Water	Reward	No	Lost
2		Dragged Through Mud	Immunity	No	Lost
3		Blind Build	Reward	No	Lost
3		Holding Court	Immunity	No	Lost
Switched Tribes, Day 9
4	Nakúm	Rows and Throws	Immunity	No	Lost
5		Slave to the Grind	Reward	No	Lost
5		What's for Launch?	Immunity	No	Won
6		Boulder Smash	Reward¹	No	Won
6		Sudden Death	Immunity	No	Lost
7		Spooling Around	Reward	No	Lost
7		Tomb Raider	Immunity	No	Won
Tribes Merged, Night 18
8	Xhakúm	Pot Head	Immunity		Lost
9		Atlatl	Reward		4th²
9		Bridge It	Immunity		Lost
10		Mud Slide	Reward		Won
10		Around the Bend	Immunity		Lost
11		Shattered Dreams	Reward		Lost
11		Maya Folklore	Immunity		Lost
12		Survivor Auction
12		Watch Your Step	Immunity		Lost
13		Second Chance	Reward		Invited
13		Pole Dancing	Immunity		Won
14		Maya Maze	Immunity		Lost
14		Wobbly Boots	Immunity		Lost
Runner-Up, Day 39
Notes: ^1 Both tribes were sent to Tribal Council. The tribe that won the Reward Challenge earned the right to compete in an individual Immunity Challenge. ^2 The reward was dependent on each castaway's finish in the challenge. Stephenie originally finished 5th, but moved up to 4th place after Jamie volunteered to take last place. Also, Judd shared his first-place reward with Stephenie.

Episode	Stephenie's Votes	Voted Against Stephenie
1	Yaxhá Tribe Immune
2	Morgan	-
3	Brianna	-
4	Brooke	-
5	Nakúm Tribe Immune
6	Margaret	-
7	Nakúm Tribe Immune
8	Brandon	-
9	Bobby Jon	Bobby Jon, Danni
10	Jamie	-
11	Gary	-
12	Judd	-
13	Cindy	Individual Immunity
14	Lydia	-
14	Ineligible	-
Jury Votes for Stephenie	Rafe
Runner-Up, Day 39

Trivia[]

Stephenie and Bobby Jon are the first returning players to be placed with a tribe of first-time players on their subsequent attempt at Survivor.
- She is the only female returnee to compete in a "one returnee per tribe" format.
Stephenie is the first woman to compete in two consecutive seasons.
Stephenie is the first returning contestant to participate in the Survivor Auction more than once. She did so in Palau and Guatemala.
Stephenie is the first player to be the highest-placing member of their original tribe in two separate seasons. She would be followed by Sandra Diaz-Twine, Ozzy Lusth, Tony Vlachos, and Natalie Anderson.
Stephenie is the first returning player to make it to Final Tribal Council on their subsequent attempt and be defeated by a first-time player. She would be followed by Coach Wade in South Pacific and Michael Skupin in Philippines.