Bob Crowley, the South Portland resident and Gorham High School physics teacher, remains at the top of his game in Africa, but that could all change on this week’s episode of the reality TV show, “Survivor: Gabon – Earth’s Last Eden.”
So far, his team, Kota, has had to vote off only one of its members, but on Thursday, both teams must vote someone out of Africa. Crowley stands a good chance, however, of not being eliminated, as he continues to be one of his team’s strongest competitors, said Gorham High colleague Jason Tanguay.
“I do suspect he could be on for a long time because he is such a
valuable contributor while at camp,” Tanguay said. “He has been a positive contributor in the award and immunity challenges as well.
Fans of the TV show will know Crowley’s current status for sure when episode 7 airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on WGME Channel 13, the CBS affiliate. The show was filmed last summer in the jungle of Gabon, a country on the western coast of Africa.
Crowley, 57, is the oldest of the 18 original contestants. That number has already shrunk to 12.
During last week’s episode 6, Crowley was a key cog in his team’s reward challenge. Both teams carried a 200-pound fake snake around a track. The first team to catch the other team won. Crowley, the tallest member of team Kota, stood strong in the center holding most of the snake’s weight and encouraged his team to pace itself as it eventually caught the opposing team, Fang, to win another reward challenge.
Crowley later helped his team win another immunity challenge. Both teams raced through obstacles to grab sections of flagpoles. Once each section was found, the teams had to assemble the flagpole. Crowley’s team, using his ability to solve puzzles, worked fluidly with his team, crushing Fang.
“During the reward challenge, he pulled his weight, literally,” said Gorham High colleague Sally Hatch. “Being so much taller than the rest of his tribe, most of the snake’s weight was on his shoulders. But he still was able to keep up the pace and help to win the reward.”
South Portland resident and Gorham High School physics teacher Bob Crowley participates during the reward channel on last week’s episode six of Survivor. Send questions/comments to the editors.
