Sarah Lacina Husband: Who Is She Married To? (2026)

Sarah Lacina, the winner of Survivor: Game Changers, is married to Wyatt Wardenburg, a fellow police officer. The couple has one son, Knox Wade, born August 22, 2014. Born Sarah Ann Lacina on July 9, 1984, in Muscatine, Iowa, Sarah is a Cedar Rapids police officer and professional MMA fighter who competed on Survivor three times. Note: some low-quality websites falsely claim her husband is fellow contestant Tony Vlachos — this is incorrect. Her actual husband, Wyatt, appeared on Survivor during the loved-ones visit and at the finale when Sarah was crowned Sole Survivor.

Who Is Wyatt Wardenburg?

Wyatt Wardenburg is a police officer who met Sarah through their shared law-enforcement careers in the Cedar Rapids area. Like Sarah, Wyatt is fitness-obsessed — the couple's social media is filled with gym photos, with Sarah once joking that their Friday happy hour happens at the gym rather than the bar. Wyatt appeared on national television during Sarah's Survivor: Game Changers loved-ones visit in 2017 and was in the audience when she won the $1 million prize. He has supported Sarah through all three of her Survivor seasons plus her victory on The Challenge: USA in 2022.

Marriage Timeline

Sarah and Wyatt's relationship developed through their shared law-enforcement careers in the Cedar Rapids area. Their son Knox Wade was born on August 22, 2014. Sarah and Wyatt married, and Wyatt appeared as her loved one during Survivor: Game Changers (filmed 2016, aired 2017) — he was in the audience at the live finale when Sarah was crowned Sole Survivor. During that season, Sarah's mother advised her she was "playing for a family now and not playing for herself," a mindset Sarah credits for her eventual victory. The couple lives in the Cedar Rapids/Marion, Iowa area.

Children

Sarah and Wyatt have one son, Knox Wade Wardenburg, born August 22, 2014. Knox was an infant when his mother left to film Game Changers, and Sarah has spoken about the difficulty of being away from her baby while competing. Her mother advised her during the game that she was "playing for a family now and not playing for herself" — a mindset Sarah credits for her eventual victory.

Survivor Career

Sarah Lacina played three seasons of Survivor. She debuted on Survivor: Cagayan (season 28, 2014), finishing 11th as the first jury member. She returned for Survivor: Game Changers (season 34, 2017) and won the $1 million prize, forming the legendary "Cops R Us" duo with Tony Vlachos — the pair is undefeated, with one of them winning every season they played together. She played a third time on Survivor: Winners at War (season 40, 2020), finishing 4th as the final juror. She later won The Challenge: USA (2022). A four-sport athlete at Muscatine High School and Wartburg College track star (BA in Social Work, 2006), she became a Cedar Rapids homicide investigator and professional MMA fighter (first pro fight: 2010, first-round submission win).

FAQ

Who is Sarah Lacina married to?

Sarah Lacina is married to Wyatt Wardenburg, a fellow police officer. (Claims that Tony Vlachos is her husband are false — he is her Survivor ally.)

Does Sarah Lacina have children?

Yes — one son, Knox Wade, born August 22, 2014.

Which Survivor season did Sarah Lacina win?

Survivor: Game Changers (season 34, 2017). She also won The Challenge: USA in 2022.

What is Sarah Lacina's job?

She is a police officer (homicide investigator) with the Cedar Rapids Police Department and a professional MMA fighter.

What is "Cops R Us"?

The nickname for Sarah's legendary Survivor duo with Tony Vlachos — both police officers. They are undefeated: one of them won every season they played together.

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