Challenges: MPF percentile
46%
Seasons: 1 | Days played: 26 | Wins: 0 | Final Three: 1
- Survivor 49 (2025) - Third place, 5-2-1.
- Received one jury vote, to finish in 3rd place in Episode 13, "A Fever Dream" (Day 26).
Sage Ahrens-Nichols on social media: Instagram
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| Survivor 49 | 0.81 | 11.38 | 0.07 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0.87 | 4.90 | 1 | 8 | 0.13 | 1.07 | 6.46 |
| Career | 0.81 | 11.38 | 0.07 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0.87 | 4.90 | 1 | 8 | 0.13 | 1.07 | 6.46 |
Sage Ahrens-Nichols - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
87%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
92%
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Sage Ahrens-Nichols - Challenge record
Survivor 49 challenges 
Tribal/team challenge record (3-for-11; 2 2nds; 1 sit-out):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 1 RC: "Cube-Bert Sea" - Works the block puzzle with Nate, but Uli loses.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 1 IC: "Baby Snakes" - Helps work the snake track, and Uli doesn't lose! (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 2 RC/IC: "Mona Lisas and Mad Ladders" - Crosses the obstacles; Uli doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Sea of Love" - Crosses obstacles, works the puzzle with Sage; Uli doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 4 RC/IC: "Stackie Robinson" - Helps carry and stack blocks, and new Kele wins!
- Survivor 49, Ep. 5 RC/IC: "Turn the Cage" - Helps haul the cage; Kele wins.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 6 RC: "Panic! At the Disc Throw" - Helps push the cart, but new Kele loses (3rd/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 6 IC: "Let It Slide" - Works the table maze with Jawan, but new Kele loses (3rd/3).
- [Survivor 49, Ep. 7 RC: "Rolling Stones" - Won the challenge "advantage," which forces her to sit out.]
- Survivor 49, Ep. 9 RC: "Get In the Ring" - Performed no individual tasks for the yellow losing team.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 10 RC: "Swing Dings" - Lands the final buoy for the blue winning team.
Individual challenge record (0-for-9): (Mean % finish: 55.5%)
- Survivor 49, Ep. 7 IC: "Hard to Handle" - Second out, on the second stage (5th/6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 8 RC/IC: "Chimney Sweeps" - Eighth out overall, fourth on blue team (3rd/10).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 9 IC: "Disconnected" - Second woman to drop her disc (4th/5).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 10 IC: "Teetering on the Edge" - One of several working on the puzzle when Sophie wins (tie-3rd/8).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 11 RC/IC: "Revolver" - One block behind Steven as he wins (tie-2nd/7).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 12 RC: "Fun Uncle" - Reaches the sandbag toss, but does not win (tie-2nd/6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 12 IC: "Gimme One Step" - Holds on for over 35 minutes, but is the final person eliminated (2nd/6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13 F5 IC: "Counting Crows Nest" - Working on the puzzle as Savannah wins (tie-2nd/5).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13 F4 IC: "Debby Spoon" - Assembles her table maze, but places no balls (tie-2nd/4).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- Survivor 49: None.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 3 |
| 2nd place: | 2 |
| Played: | 11 |
| Win %: | 0.36 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 9 |
| Win %: | 0.00 |
| Mean % Finish: | 55.5% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win %: | - |
| Mean % Finish: | - |
Sage Ahrens-Nichols - Tribal Council record
Survivor 49 Tribal 
Idols held/played (0/0) | Advantages held/played (1/1):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 7: Finds the correct key, giving her the "challenge advantage" for the Ep7 RC, which just allows her to sit out and advance directly to the IC.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (7/8):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep6 | Shannon | Shannon Fairweather (voted out, 3-1) | Yes |
| Ep7 | Nate | Nate Moore (voted out, 7-4) | Yes |
| Ep8 | MC | MC Chukwujekwu (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Alex | Alex Moore (voted out, 6-2-1) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Savannah | Jawan Pitts (voted out, 5-3-1) | - |
| Ep11 | Sophie | Sophie Segreti (voted out, 6-1) | Yes |
| Ep12 | Steven | Steven Ramm (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| Ep13 | Kristina | Kristina Mills (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| 8 | TOTALS | 7 | |
VAP - Votes against (1):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13: One vote, from Kristina.
Jury votes received (1/8):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13: Received one jury vote, from Jawan, to finish in third place, 5-2-1.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 1/1 |
| Idols found: | 0 |
| Idols played: | - |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 7 |
| Tribals: | 8 |
| VAP: | 1 |
| Made: | 0 |
| For winners: | - |
| Received: | 1 |
| Total jurors: | 8 |
Sage Ahrens-Nichols - Pictures
Survivor 49 image gallery -
Survivor 49 intro shot -
Survivor 49 intro shot -
Official CBS pre-game interview shot -
On the boat, Day 1 -
Greeting Probst -
Working the puzzle, Ep1 RC -
Uli tribe introductions (minus Rizo) -
Stopping to burp during confessional -
Greeting Rizo, victorious on the journey -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC -
Working the snake track, as Uli takes second -
Uli discusses things that are fire and cinema, Ep2 -
Watching from the sit-out bench, Ep2 RC/IC -
Talking about being on the bottom of Uli, Ep3 -
Learning about Jake's medevac, pre-Ep3 RC/IC -
Working the puzzle with Nate, as Uli takes second -
The new Kele tribe, Ep4 swap -
Introductions at the crappy new camp -
Breathwork session with Shannon -
Kele leading, Ep4 RC/IC -
Hauling blocks -
New Kele wins! -
Kele finally has flint -
Wanting to vote out Shannon, Ep5 -
Filling Alex and Steven in -
Listening to MC's journey report -
Hugging Shannon -
Kele leading again, Ep5 IC -
Kele wins! -
The new NEW Kele tribe, Ep6 swap -
Watching Steven toss discs, Ep6 RC -
Yay, Uli reunion -
Shannon is very much with Sage -
Working the table maze with Jawan, Ep6 IC -
The losing Keles, back in camp -
Warning Jawan that Shannon is targeting him -
Kele, Ep6 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
Mission accomplished! Ep7 -
Bottoms Up alliance formed, as they await the other two tribes, Ep7 merge -
Explaining the Shannon boot -
Listening to the challenge advantage scramble instructions -
Found the right key -
Sage wins challenge advantage -
Uli reunion at the merge beach -
Officially merged, pre-Ep7 RC -
Sage's advantage lets her sit out of the RC -
Starting line, Ep7 IC -
Reward feasting -
Plotting with Kristina -
Merge tribe, Ep7 Tribal -
Listening to Probst -
The blue team, pre-Ep8 RC/IC -
Chimney Sweeps-ing -
The losing blues -
Sophie wants to keep it simple, vote Rizo -
Blue team plus Savannah, Ep8 Tribal -
Listening to Rizo -
Steven says Kristina has an idol, Ep9 -
Starting line, Ep9 RC -
Watching Jawan land a ring -
Starting line, Ep9 IC -
Lewatu, Ep9 Tribal -
Telling Jawan about Kristina's idol, Ep10 -
Starting line, Ep10 RC -
Just landed the final ball; blue team wins! -
Reward feasting -
Removing discs, Ep10 IC -
Trying to catch Sophie on the puzzle -
Lewatu, Ep10 Tribal -
Not thrilled about the Jawan blindside, Ep11 -
Hoping to work with Sophi -
Declining the "strenuous" journey -
Chickens 2, Players 0 -
Listening to Steven's journey report -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Stacking blocks -
Let's vote out Sophie -
Rizo has the same idea -
Lewatu, Ep11 Tribal -
Listening to Sophie -
Revenge for Jawan! (Blindsiding Sophie) Ep12 -
Trying to land a sandbag, Ep12 RC -
Learning Steven's advantage is a block-a-vote -
Starting line, Ep12 IC -
Showdown with Savannah -
Lewatu, Ep12 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
Listening to the challenge advantage scramble instructions, Ep13 -
Working on the puzzle, F5 IC -
Picked by Savannah for a Sanctuary steak feast -
Lewatu, F5 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
Pre-challenge lineup, F4 IC -
Assembling the table maze -
F4 Tribal, waiting for Sophi's decision on who makes fire -
The final three, morning 26 -
Cheers! -
Morning 26 breakfast -
Reflecting on her game -
Leaving camp for the last time -
The final three, ready to face the jury -
Answering questions -
Waiting for the jury vote reveal -
Congratulating Savannah -
Finalists and jury, the Aftershow
Sage Ahrens-Nichols - Interviews
Survivor 49 interviews Pre-game interviews
- Mike Bloom at RHAP (8/24/25): "Survivor 49 Preseason Interview: Sage Ahrens-Nichols"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (9/5/25): "Sage Ahrens-Nichols Brings a Military Background and a Love of Emotions"
Post-game interviews
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (12/19/25): "Sage Ahrens-Nichols felt alone and confused after rough Survivor 49 finale: 'People did not like me'"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (12/19/25): "Survivor 49 Finalist Sage Ahrens-Nichols Reveals the Jury Was 'Brutal' in Final Tribal Council: 'They Wanted Me to Hurt'"
- Rob Cesternino at RHAP (12/19/25): "Sage Ahrens-Nichols Survivor 49 Exit Interview"
Sage Ahrens-Nichols - Bio
Survivor 49 bio Official CBS Survivor 49 bio excerpts, as preserved by Mike Bloom in Parade.com (August 20, 2025):
"3 Words to Describe You: Intentional, Curious, Wacky
Why do you want to be part of Survivor? I don’t have a philosophical answer for you. Quite simply put, YOLO. I also just love torturing myself.
What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? Depends on which facet of the game you’re referring to. Physically? The military. Emotionally? The trauma. Socially? Neurodivergence. Mentally? Social Work.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? Maryanne. People often mistake me as an optimist because of my upbeat energy and quirkiness. Like Maryanne, this causes people to assume I’m naive and fragile. Also like Maryanne, I don’t feel the need to prove these people wrong; rather, I like to play the long game. Time always tells. Meanwhile, I invest my energy into people who actually want to get to know me. I hope I play like Maryanne – lead with my spirit, not my ego.
What will you value in an alliance partner? Someone who can have fun and find humor, especially in the shitty moments.
Favorite hobbies: I don’t have hobbies per se (hopefully I spelled that correctly) but in general, I like trying new things. I’ll usually hyper fixate on a game (used to be Among Us, now it’s Code Names.)
Pet Peeves: 1) Very broadly speaking, the patriarchy, 2) People who instantly roll their eyes at me saying “the patriarchy.” 3) People who don’t put away their shopping carts.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? That I was in the military, and I have a twin.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? Oh geez, that’s a big question. At the risk of sounding like a total cornball, I’m constantly finding myself inspired by the people around me. I have to shout out my partner though. The relationship we have built together is a constant source of inspiration. He’s made me feel safe enough to find myself again. It’s the most special gift anyone has ever give me.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? I’m annoyingly persistent."