Penn State 'Survivor' update: Rosenberger makes it to Final Four

CBS Photo Ian Rosenberger won a Corvette convertible in the reward challenge, and made it through tribal counsel.

Strategy was the name of the game in episode 13 of "Survivor: Palau," as the remaining five Survivors tried to position themselves to make it to the finale. "The thing Tom and I have to worry about is the three girls turning on us. If we can avoid that in the next 24 hours, we're money," said Penn State's Ian Rosenberger. However, while Tom talked with Caryn about having her, him and Rosenberger going to the final three, Rosenberger talked with Katie and Jenn about voting Caryn out.

The strategy sessions were interrupted by a reward challenge, which had at stake a Chevrolet Corvette convertible and dinner at a mansion. Rosenberger won the reward, and got to choose one person to join him. Although he and Tom had talked about taking one of the women on the reward to prevent the three women from plotting to turn on the two men, Rosenberger had second thoughts when it came time to make his choice. In what he later called "the biggest mistake I've made in this game because I hurt somebody I care about," Rosenberger chose Tom to go with him. "I told Tom that if a car was involved, I'd take him," explained Rosenberger as he made his choice. "Yesterday I said I'd take Katie, but I shook hands with Tom."

Katie did not take the news well, and while the men enjoyed the reward, she "cleaned house," telling the other women everything she knew about the men's plans. As a means of taking control of the game, the women decided they would vote off whichever man did not get immunity. When he returned, Rosenberger explained to Katie. She was angry, feeling betrayed by Rosenberger, whom she said was "the closest thing I had to family." Rosenberger apologized, telling her that "I'm going to try to be your friend for the rest of my life."

The strategy sessions picked up again before the immunity challenge, and Rosenberger even considered the possibility of voting off Tom. As he put it, "The game is Survivor, not Parcheesi."

The immunity challenge was a combination of agility and memory. While Rosenberger seemed to fare best in the agility portion, Tom overcame some early setbacks and won what he called the most important immunity in the game. Tribal counsel was tense, as Caryn accused Rosenberger and others of making multiple, conflicting alliances, putting Rosenberger in jeopardy of being voted out. When the votes were tallied, however, Caryn was voted out, sending Rosenberger, Tom, Jenn and Katie to the two-hour finale, scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

Read comments that have been sent to Rosenberger at http://live.psu.edu/story/12034 online.

Rosenberger, 23, a native of Ambridge, majored in agricultural extension and educational leadership at Penn State. He currently is the second-favorite Survivor, trailing Stephanie, who was voted off in episode 11. Tom is right on Rosenberger's heels, as the third-favorite Survivor. To help make Rosenberger the favorite Survivor, go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor10/vote/popularity.shtml and for Rosenberger's biography, go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor10/survivors/bio/ian.shtml