Stephenie Danielle LaGrossa[1] is a contestant from Survivor: Palau.
In Palau, Stephenie was chosen for the ill-fated Ulong tribe which went on to lose every immunity challenge. She eventually became the only surviving member and was absorbed into the rival Koror tribe. Despite her best efforts, her outsider and jury threat status led to her being quickly taken out.
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 Survivor: Palau with a bang when herself and Jonathan Libby jumped off the boat before any other castaway and tried swimming to win an Immunity Necklace. Unfortunately, Stephenie and her fellow swimmer jumped the gun and were the last ones to the beach. Her obvious athleticism caused her to be picked early in the Schoolyard Pick by Bobby Jon Drinkard, putting her on the Ulong tribe.
Stephenie continued to hold her own in challenges, being one of the more athletic members of her tribe. However, Ulong's lack of teamwork caused them to suffer an abysmal losing streak. Stephenie and Ulong first voted out Jolanda Jones for her difficult personality, Ashlee Ashby due to illness and weakness in challenges, Jeff Wilson due to an injured ankle, and Kim Mullen for her uselessness in challenges and at camp.
At the next Reward Challenge, Ulong lost again, however, both tribes would vote out a member. As part of their reward, the opposing tribe, Koror, granted Ibrehem Rahman with an Immunity Necklace at the vote. Stephenie and her ally Angie Jakusz voted for Bobby Jon which forced a tie between Angie and Bobby Jon. Seeing no other way, Steph was forced to vote out Angie in the revote. Ulong lost yet another challenge and at Tribal Council, Stephenie stuck by James Miller and voted for Ibrehem, causing a tie. Bobby Jon then promised Stephenie that if she switched her vote he wouldn't vote for her at the next Tribal Council. Stephenie trusted him and voted out James. Ulong then lost their sixth straight Immunity Challenge. Thankfully for Stephenie, Bobby Jon stuck to his word and they voted out Ibrehem.
Koror now outnumbered Ulong with eight members to Ulong's two. In a close challenge, Ulong lost for the seventh time. At Tribal Council, Stephenie and Bobby Jon were confused as to how their fate would be decided. Jeff Probst announced that a fire-making challenge would decide which of the two would go on. Stephenie defeated Bobby Jon, eliminating him, and sending her back to camp, alone. The next day, Stephenie got Tree Mail telling her to pack up her things and move to the Koror beach. Ulong had officially been conquered.
Stephenie was the obvious outcast at Koror. Coby Archa quickly took her under his wing and informed her of the majority alliance of the tribe. Stephenie came close to winning the first individual Immunity Challenge, but lost to Tom Westman. Fortunately for her, the dominant alliance instead targeted their long-time enemy and threatening player, Coby, voting him out 7-1-1.
The following Immunity Challenge revealed a weakness in Janu Tornell as she was put on Exile Island for her poor performance. Stephenie's loss seemed to seal her fate, however at Tribal Council Janu announced to Jeff Probst and the tribe that she would be willing to quit in order to spare Stephenie, who showed a greater will to remain in the game. With Ian Rosenberger winning the next Immunity Challenge, Stephenie made a plea to him, Tom, and Caryn Groedel to stay, however, it appeared that Stephenie's time was finally up. Stephenie was voted out unanimously, making her the third member of the jury.
At Final Tribal Council, Stephenie cast her vote for Tom to win the game over Katie Gallagher due to his superior strategy and dominance in challenges. Tom won Survivor: Palau in a 6-1 vote.
| Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | Race to Shore | Immunity | Lost | |
| Ulong | Supply Dump | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
| 2 | The Gauntlet | Reward | No | Won | |
| Heads Up | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 3 | By Any Means Necessary | Reward | No | Won | |
| Hot Pursuit | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 4 | Build a Better Bathroom | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Sumo at Sea | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 5 | Sea Salvage | Reward | No | Lost | |
| 6 | Shooting Gallery | Reward | No | Won | |
| Build It Up, Break It Down | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 7 | S.O.S. | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Floating Puzzle | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 8 | Cool Hand Balut | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Under Current | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| Switched Tribes, Day 22 | |||||
| 9 | Koror | Perch | Immunity | Lost | |
| 10 | Water Tower | Reward | Lost | ||
| Last Gasp | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 11 | Missing in Auction | ||||
| Kamikaze | Immunity | Lost | |||
| Voted Out, Day 30 | |||||
| Episode | Stephenie's Votes |
Voted Against Stephenie |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jolanda | - |
| 2 | Ashlee | - |
| 3 | Jeff | - |
| 4 | Kim | - |
| 5 | Bobby Jon; Angie1 |
- |
| 6 | Ibrehem; James2 |
- |
| 7 | Ibrehem | Ibrehem |
| 8 | No Vote3 | |
| 9 | Coby | Janu |
| 10 | No Vote | |
| 11 | Caryn | Caryn, Gregg, Ian, Jenn, Katie, Tom |
| Voted Out, Day 30 | ||
| Voted for Sole Survivor |
Tom | |
^1 In "The Best and Worst Reward Ever", the vote ended with a 2-2 tie between Angie and Bobby Jon, forcing a revote. Stephenie changed her vote to Angie on the revote.
^2 In "Jellyfish 'n Chips", the vote ended with a 2-2 tie between Ibrehem and James, forcing a revote. Stephenie changed her vote to James on the revote.
^3 In "Neanderthal Man", there was a fire-making challenge instead of a vote at Tribal Council between Stephenie and Bobby Jon. Stephenie won the challenge and remained in the game.
References[]
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