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Will Jason 'survive?' Local reality TV star athletic, but needs allies

If you're rooting for Jason Siska to win "Survivor: Micronesia," keep your fingers crossed. It's getting rough for the Fox River Grove native, who's student teaching in Barrington schools.

Jason's athleticism has helped him survive so far -- but could very well make him a target tonight or in the coming weeks.

Will the other contestants gang up and vote him out? Or will his agility help him win challenges and secure immunity?

Let's take a closer look at what's keeping the 23-year-old in the game -- and where he's vulnerable.

In Jason's favor

Athleticism. If you watched Jason jump nimbly onto tiny floating platforms while the other contestants tumbled, you know he's a tremendous athlete.

Even Jeff Probst is impressed.

"Jason is certainly one of the most naturally gifted players this season or any season," says the host of "Survivor," which airs on WBBM Channel 2 at 7 p.m.

Ron Siska, Jason's father, runs down the sports Jason has played: baseball, gymnastics (starting at Barrington High School), soccer, diving, golf, mountain climbing and slacklining. That involves fastening a cord between two trees and walking across it.

"I have pictures of him walking from one palm tree to another," says his dad.

Jason, in fact, was born in the Virgin Islands and returned there almost every year.

A love of competition. Jason loves to compete, says his father. When Ozzy Lusth used athletic skill and agility to become the runner-up on 2005's "Survivor: Cook Islands," Jason said Ozzy was his role model. As luck would have it, Ozzy returned this season so Jason is competing against him.

Probst said, via e-mail, that Jason came into the game with a lot of confidence, claiming he was the next Ozzy. Probst was skeptical, but that changed.

"I've been very impressed with how he (Jason) has performed in challenges and around camp. He's definitely given Ozzy a run for his money in skill and aggressive attitude," Probst says.

Still, he gives Ozzy the edge.

Working against him

His strategy. Jason has a strategy? If he does, it's been "Win every challenge so your team will need you." But now that each contestant is competing as an individual, things are different.

If he wins the challenge on every show, he'll gain immunity. That means he can't be voted off that particular show. But that's a long shot, and "Survivor" history shows contestants need allies to win the $1 million prize.

"His strategy is changing," says Probst. "I think he realizes he is in trouble, because now everybody knows that he can win challenges."

Jason needs to leverage his ability into alliances, Probst says, but that will be hard.

"Just like Ozzy, he has not figured out how to play the politics of 'Survivor,'" Probst says.

His loner vibe. So why hasn't Jason developed allies?

"Jason appears to be a loner by nature," says Probst. "He's very opinionated and doesn't quite seem to understand that 'Survivor' is a game about relationships.

"Jason definitely struggles socially … I think he's a good person with honorable intentions but his arrogance rubs people the wrong way," says Probst.

Jason is definitely well-liked in Barrington, where he's student teaching at Prairie Middle School. His students have an awed, "My teacher is a TV star!" attitude.

His family is well-known in the area as well. His brother Adam plays bass for the band The Academy Is …, which toured with Fall Out Boy. And his mom teaches at Station Middle School.

Jason plans to graduate this spring from Illinois State University. He hopes to teach history and Spanish.

Of course, an extra million would come in handy in case the students ever get on his nerves.

Jason Siska has helped his team win immunity challenges. Now, however, he's on his own.
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