Matt Elrod
Born: October 2, 1988
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Occupation: Pre-Med Student Seasons: Redemption Island Placing: Seventh (Redemption Island) Tribes: Ometepe; Murlonio Total Challenge Wins: 10
Days Lasted: 36 Votes Against: 10 Awards: Super Hero (Redemption Island) |
Survivor: Redemption Island
Matt was one of the new contestants elated to see veteran player Rob Mariano draw the Ometepe buff. He was shown as a devout Christian, who would play the game with a high degree of integrity. His 3 closest allies and friends in the game would be Andrea Boehlke, Grant Mattos, and Mike Chiesl, but Matt would betray or be betrayed by all 3 of them.
Following Kristina Kell's secret discovery of the Hidden Immunity Idol, Matt became part of Rob's newly formed alliance to usurp Kristina's plans of eliminating him. The alliance consisted of Rob Mariano, Grant Mattos, Andrea Boehlke, Natalie Tenerelli, and Ashley Underwood. With most of the tribe following their idol, Rob, the vote was split according as planned, where Kristina's closest ally Francesca Hogi was eliminated.
On Day 5, despite being faithfully aligned with him, Rob noticed that Matt was seemingly starting to make a budding romantic relationship with fellow alliance partner Andrea Boehlke, a familiar tune for Rob, who was once in that same situation (which eventually lead to his marriage to Survivor: All Stars winner Amber Brkich). Matt made a more damaging mistake by shaking hands with the rival Zapatera tribe seconds after Ometepe suffered their second consecutive defeat on Day 5. This gesture irked Rob, who swerved the vote to Matt's direction. In the end, Rob managed to turn the majority alliance against Matt, blindsiding him in a 4-2-2 vote, sending him to Redemption Island and also flushing Kristina's Hidden Immunity Idol in the process who played it when Rob scared her into thinking she was being voted out.
However, Matt became an unstoppable force at Redemption Island, winning every duel, including one where he faced the infamous villain Russell Hantz. On Day 19, he won himself back the game, earning him a spot in the merged Murlonio tribe.
After the merge, Matt found himself as a swing vote between the majority Ometepe alliance, and the minority Zapatera alliance. He told Rob he wanted to be part of his alliance still, and that he now wanted to go to the final 3 with Grant and Rob. While Matt easily forgave the very tribe that sent him to Redemption Island, Matt weighed his options too. He and Andrea were offered a Final Four deal by Zapatera member, Mike Chiesl, if they voted out either Rob or Rob's closest ally Grant Mattos. However, Matt decided to follow his honor code and told Rob he actually tried to vote him out, ostensibly throwing Andrea, who was also offered the same thing, under the bus. This prompted Rob to have the Ometepe alliance turn on Matt once again in a 6-5-1 vote, sending him back to Redemption Island, and the Zapatera alliance felt sorry for him. Matt was told a lie by Grant and Rob to vote for Steve Wright, who he was made to believe was the intended target, which would be the deciding vote in Matt receiving 1 more vote than Grant Mattos who all the Zapatera tribe would vote for. Andrea would be the crucial swing vote in voting for Matt instead of her other main ally Grant, and sticking firmly to the Ometepe side.
Matt's second go-around at Redemption Island was not as eventful as his first one, as Mike dominated in the duels, while Matt himself only finished second. After being blindsided on Day 33, Andrea would arrive at Redemption Island, and get into a heated debate with Matt about his recent blindside. Matt would face especially tough competition in the final duel against Mike Chiesl, the just recently blindsided (on Day 35) Grant Mattos, and Andrea Boehlke. On Day 36, Matt was not able to return to the game for a second time, when Andrea, who was voted out four days ago, won the final duel, sending Matt to the jury in 7th place.
At the Final Tribal Council, Matt berated Rob for his duplicitous game play, but ultimately voted for him, putting it down largely to the lack of other respectable options with Rob purposely having dragged Natalie Tenerelli and Phillip Sheppard as the other 2 finalists.
Following Kristina Kell's secret discovery of the Hidden Immunity Idol, Matt became part of Rob's newly formed alliance to usurp Kristina's plans of eliminating him. The alliance consisted of Rob Mariano, Grant Mattos, Andrea Boehlke, Natalie Tenerelli, and Ashley Underwood. With most of the tribe following their idol, Rob, the vote was split according as planned, where Kristina's closest ally Francesca Hogi was eliminated.
On Day 5, despite being faithfully aligned with him, Rob noticed that Matt was seemingly starting to make a budding romantic relationship with fellow alliance partner Andrea Boehlke, a familiar tune for Rob, who was once in that same situation (which eventually lead to his marriage to Survivor: All Stars winner Amber Brkich). Matt made a more damaging mistake by shaking hands with the rival Zapatera tribe seconds after Ometepe suffered their second consecutive defeat on Day 5. This gesture irked Rob, who swerved the vote to Matt's direction. In the end, Rob managed to turn the majority alliance against Matt, blindsiding him in a 4-2-2 vote, sending him to Redemption Island and also flushing Kristina's Hidden Immunity Idol in the process who played it when Rob scared her into thinking she was being voted out.
However, Matt became an unstoppable force at Redemption Island, winning every duel, including one where he faced the infamous villain Russell Hantz. On Day 19, he won himself back the game, earning him a spot in the merged Murlonio tribe.
After the merge, Matt found himself as a swing vote between the majority Ometepe alliance, and the minority Zapatera alliance. He told Rob he wanted to be part of his alliance still, and that he now wanted to go to the final 3 with Grant and Rob. While Matt easily forgave the very tribe that sent him to Redemption Island, Matt weighed his options too. He and Andrea were offered a Final Four deal by Zapatera member, Mike Chiesl, if they voted out either Rob or Rob's closest ally Grant Mattos. However, Matt decided to follow his honor code and told Rob he actually tried to vote him out, ostensibly throwing Andrea, who was also offered the same thing, under the bus. This prompted Rob to have the Ometepe alliance turn on Matt once again in a 6-5-1 vote, sending him back to Redemption Island, and the Zapatera alliance felt sorry for him. Matt was told a lie by Grant and Rob to vote for Steve Wright, who he was made to believe was the intended target, which would be the deciding vote in Matt receiving 1 more vote than Grant Mattos who all the Zapatera tribe would vote for. Andrea would be the crucial swing vote in voting for Matt instead of her other main ally Grant, and sticking firmly to the Ometepe side.
Matt's second go-around at Redemption Island was not as eventful as his first one, as Mike dominated in the duels, while Matt himself only finished second. After being blindsided on Day 33, Andrea would arrive at Redemption Island, and get into a heated debate with Matt about his recent blindside. Matt would face especially tough competition in the final duel against Mike Chiesl, the just recently blindsided (on Day 35) Grant Mattos, and Andrea Boehlke. On Day 36, Matt was not able to return to the game for a second time, when Andrea, who was voted out four days ago, won the final duel, sending Matt to the jury in 7th place.
At the Final Tribal Council, Matt berated Rob for his duplicitous game play, but ultimately voted for him, putting it down largely to the lack of other respectable options with Rob purposely having dragged Natalie Tenerelli and Phillip Sheppard as the other 2 finalists.
Voting History
Episode |
Matt Voted For |
Voted For Matt |
1 |
Francesca Hogi |
--- |
2 |
Ashley Underwood, Grant Mattos, Natalie Tenerelli, Rob Mariano |
|
8 |
Steve Wright |
|
14 |
--- |
Trivia
- Matt was the youngest male contestant to compete on Survivor: Redemption Island.
- Matt is the first person to be voted out on Day 5.
- He is also the first male to be ever sent to Redemption Island.
- Matt is the first contestant to return from Redemption Island.
- He is also the first of three contestants to be sent to Redemption Island twice (the second one is Ozzy Lusth, with the third being Laura Morett).
- After losing the duel to him, Krista lent to Matthew her luxury item: a bible.
- Though he did not win any challenges as part of Ometepe, he did win the most Redemption Island duels, winning ten of eleven. He also spent the most time on Redemption Island, spending there 29 days of his 36-day run.
- He is the only contestant to reach the Merge without winning a single tribal challenge.
- However, Denise Stapley reached the merge with only 1 tribal challenge victory and that came via forfeit.
- He is the only contestant to reach the Merge without winning a single tribal challenge.
- Matt was referenced in the Survivor: South Pacific episode "Reap What You Sow" by Christie Shields Markoski, who said "It would be great if I pulled a Matt and returned to the game."
- Matt is the first of two contestants to return from Redemption Island, but eventually lose a duel - resulting in their elimination, with the other being Laura Morett. Andrea Boehlke, Ozzy Lusth, and Tina Wesson also returned from Redemption Island, but never lost a duel.
- Matt is also the only person to participate in every single duel at Redemption Island.
- Matt has the record for longest Redemption Island winning streak at 10 consecutive wins.
- Matt lost 25 lbs. during his time on Redemption Island.
- Matt turned down the offer to appear for a second time in Survivor: Caramoan as a favorite.