Male: Johnny Bananas Female: Laurel Stucky

I view Free Agents as the definitive Johnny Bananas legacy season. He had won 4 Challenges prior to Free Agents, and was looking to become the all time Challenge champion. I had never viewed him on the same level of other elite competitors, viewing him as a successful due to luck and timing more than anything. Bananas proved me, and a lot of people wrong on Free Agents. He had most of the guys in the house gunning for him (Jordan, Reilly, Zach) , neutral (CT, Cohutta, Frank), or even his best friend in the game, LeRoy, was playing to be in the draw, just chancing it.

Bananas went to 3 eliminations, being voted in twice, and getting the last minute kill card before the final, where he had to go up against CT. He was never known for being good at eliminations, but came back from all three, won the final daily mission of the season, and most importantly won the final. Regardless of how you view Bananas, he has one of the best individual seasons in Challenge history, he has a scene that you can put on the highlight reel against the best.

I spent a good amount of time choosing between Laurel and Cara Maria for Free Agents. Cara Maria’s emergence as an elite competitor was a major surprise, she came into the game in the best shape of her life, killed competitions, slayed eliminations, won an elimination and continued to play in the game despite breaking her hand. Her and Laurel started the season best friends, and as the friendship broke apart, most people found themselves on Cara’s side, as Laurel proved herself to be a terrible person and friend.

I had to choose Laurel. She won 4 eliminations (part of an exclusive club to do that), beat Cara Maria in elimination, and finally won her first Challenge after 3 second place finishes.

Cara Maria breaking her hand is one of the biggest “What Ifs” in Challenge history. She lost to Laurel in an elimination that almost necessitates that you have two hands. In “Wrecking Wall” Laurel is stronger based on mass and size, but Cara Maria is quicker, more agile, has better core strength, and stronger forearms. I think it would have been really close. And even then, you have to consider that the last daily challenge, Cara participated with a broken hand, and still beat Devyn on the shoveling portion. A healthy Cara, paired with CT, maybe wins that Challenge. Considering the X factor Zach meltdown that happened on top of the mountain during the final; if Nany was able to within 8 minutes of Laurel, Cara Maria likely would have won. Then again, that didn’t happen, and Laurel won.

Rookie of the Year

Male: Johnny Reilly Female: LaToya Jackson

There were two female rookies on Free Agents, LaToya and Nia. One made it to episode 3, and the other made it to episode 4. LaToya wins this award for going further, and winning an elimination.

The guys pick was easy. Johnny Reilly won a few daily missions, and even won an individual mission. Of course he had a lucky horseshoe up his ass, but he still proved himself in the final, getting close to Bananas, and in my opinion would have won if he had pushed himself with the focus of winning, rather than only keeping up.

First Team All Challenge