Holmdel Resident Makes 'Survivor' Debut Wednesday

Pete Yurkowski, 24, of Holmdel, will be competing on the 25th season of the 'Survivor' series, which premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CBS. 

"I never thought I'd be on a TV show," Yurkowski said. "I had just graduated college and my mom was telling me to get a job. I saw the application for 'Survivor' and sent them a tape and bio and they called me back."

Yurkowski, an engineering graduate, was a fan of the show when it first came out and thought he would be a good fit for it. 

"I love sports, love physical activity, it's dangerous, they put you in the middle of nowhere, it's a strategy game and I'm good at lying and manipulating people," Yurkowski said. "I saw no problem in trying to manipulate people to go for a million dollars."

Yurkowski added his competitiveness was also a good characteristic to be on the show. 

"I'm very competitive," Yurkowski said. "I like winning but I hate losing even more. You're going to see that I don't like to lose. Put me in a corner and I'll do everything I can to get out of the corner."

When filming began Yurkowski did not have a specific strategy because "you don't know what they're going to throw at you," but did say he prepared physically. 

"I went to the gym everyday," Yurkowski said. "I didn't get into athletic shape but I put on a lot of body fat and a lot of muscle."

Yurkowski, who is currently a model for Wilhelmina, grew up going to Village and William R. Satz school in Holmdel. He attended high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft. As the season premieres tonight, Yurkowski tells viewers they can expect him to do anything to win. 

"It's a game and I'm not going there to lose," Yurkowski said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to win."