Strategy part of big upset on Wednesday night’s ‘Survivor’

Even though Denise Stapley of Marion missed her target in Wednesday night's team Immunity Challenge, her Sele tribe battled back from a dismal showing to post a big upset over Sarah Lacina's Dakal tribe in 'Survivor: Winners at War.”

Stapley's tribe was sent home with a two-part prize: a night off and four egg-laying chickens to help beef up their meager diets. Lacina, of Cedar Rapids, went back to camp with her tribe empty-handed, left to strategize who would be voted off their tropical Mamanuca island in Fiji.

In true 'Survivor” fashion, just when it seemed like everyone was onboard with the person they considered the biggest threat to their games, they flipped the voting upside down. And Tyson Apostol was banished to the Edge of Extinction. From there, he can try to work his way back onto the main island, for the chance of winning the $2 million Sole Survivor grand prize.

Meanwhile, the four players already banished to the Edge of Extinction faced an arduous challenge in hopes of earning fire tokens, placing them one step closer to returning to the game. They had many steps to climb, making their way up a steep set of stairs through high, rugged terrain 20 times to fetch 20 logs one-by-one to pile at their individual fire circles on the flatland.

Near collapse, cancer survivor Ethan Zohn needed a medical check. After a prescribed rest, he decided to continue the final four climbs. Danni Boatwright, Natalie Anderson and Amber Mariano had his back, following him on his final trip up and down the mountain.

But can that solidarity survive on subsequent days and challenges?

See how the game continues to unfold on both islands next Wednesday at 7 p.m. on CBS-TV and CBS All Access.

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com