Survivor Tryouts Come to Put-in-Bay, Ohio

I came to Put-in-Bay, Ohio, today to audition for "Survivor".

But I wasn’t tough enough to withstand the two lines full of what looks like a few thousand people vying to get on the iconic show. So now I sit at a table on the Boardwalk just 10 feet from the two video cameras set up to capture would-be competitors’ 90-second pitch, capturing the scene for this story and for our social media. 

My chief complaint at the moment? My coffee isn’t hot enough. Also, I’m a little chilly and where did I put my lip gloss? Can you take lip gloss on Survivor?

I glance over and see a woman from Akron being filmed shaking her booty wildly.

This is not really me. 

But it is the absolute dream of the people I’m meeting today.

Let’s back up a step. I took the 11 a.m. Miller Ferry from the mainland. About 75% of the people I spoke with on the ferry were on their way to try out.

I meet Meriah Zeleny, 32, from Lakewood, Ohio. It’s her third time auditioning and her first time in person. She became a widow just over a year ago.

“Surviving is something I did not choose to do,” she tells me, tearing up a bit. “I want to survive something I choose to.”

Dean Torcasio, 31, and his buddy Cody Boyles, 28, are both in sales and from Massillon, Ohio. They’re super fit and, as Boyles says, “can make friends in five minutes.”

I like their chances.

Then I meet 31-year-old Chris Beal from Akron, Ohio. This is his second time auditioning and, last time, he made it all the way to the round where you interview with "Survivor" host Jeff Probst.

“Jeff was awesome,” he tells me. “He was like, ‘What’s up, man?’” and we just had a conversation.”

When I arrived on the island, I scouted out both audition sites — The Boardwalk and The Keyes. The people at the very front of the line arrived early this morning for the noon-to-4 p.m. auditions. Many of the people at the back of the line will be sent home without auditioning. 

But I've found a front-row seat to all of the auditions from my table at The Boardwalk. Survivor staff say they want people to be themselves and let their true personalities shine — and they do.

Alex Nolen hands me his business card, reading “Northeast Ohio’s fastest runner with dwarfism.” He hopes to represent people like him in a way different from TLC’s “Little People” show.

“I think I can win,” he tells me. Like his card says, he runs a pretty fast mile. He’s also been involved in the world of micro wrestling. “It’s not fake; just choreographed,” he adds.

I hear a “whoooooo” behind me. It’s a 58-year-old woman from Columbus, Ohio, auditioning. She’s older than me, but also a lot more ripped than me. I could see her making it. With a final “whooooooooo” she steps away from the camera.

I’m about done with this story now — and off to track down some hot coffee.

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