Survivor Ghost Island cast: Morgan Ricke has a killer attitude

Already completing her childhood dream of being a killer whale trainer, Survivor Ghost Island is like an extra dream to chase for Morgan Ricke.

Typically, Survivor likes to cast players who exemplify a strong character archetype that can earn a segmented spot of the viewing audience’s attention, fandom or support. Morgan Ricke has an interesting story, is a fan of the game and was even almost cast for the last season, but there’s no pre-determined box that she fits in. Considering the importance of blending in, this could massively work to her benefit.

At age 29, Morgan has already gone on a lifelong journey, had that dream cut short, focused on accomplishing another dream and succeeding in that realm, according to her CBS bio. She was a national-level competitive gymnast who sustained a career-ending injury, preventing her from ever advancing to an international level in gymnastics. Even then, she still earned a Division I diving scholarship to the University of South Carolina, overcoming a considerable hurdle.

Now she’s a marine animal trainer at SeaWorld Orlando, training killer whales. She’s already achieved unrealistic goals for someone in her position multiple times, and now she enters Survivor Ghost Island having been a fan since season 2 and knowledgeable about the game’s history of twists and turns.

She describes herself by running the gamut of all Survivor types, including bubbly, stubborn, resilient, strong, fearless and others. However, she doesn’t seem to have an overwhelming focus on any one trait. Important is that she’s quietly confident instead, showing off a tempered determination that you don’t find in many contestants for a reality show.

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She’s ready to flirt with contestants, be loud and boisterous when necessary, she’s prepared for aquatic challenges; Morgan Ricke seems to be an accomplished player before the game even begins. While she doesn’t have a cast of players that are feeble-minded as One World was, Morgan definitely gives off a less gamebot-like feel (but in the similar style of play) to a Kim Spradlin.

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I wasn’t the only one to think of that connection, as Jeff Probst says the exact same thing in his cast preview. If anything, it seems like she doesn’t carry herself as much as a tribe leader as Kim did to the Salani women, but that’s from what I can tell of her talking about herself. Furthermore, you don’t need to be Kim Spradlin to win the game of Survivor; only if you want to be the very best winner in the game’s history.

She seems to be having a good time out on the island before the game starts, and there certainly aren’t any red flags that might sink her Survivor Ghost Island chances just yet. She’s the kind of player in the cast preview period that you most “medium suspect” to win the game, fitting right in the game as a number or a player waiting for the right time to strike.

I don’t suspect Morgan to make a big splash early on, but I do think her athletic abilities and strategic play will keep her until at least the merge. However, she’s so much of a blank slate that she can go anywhere from here. She’s certainly proven she can do anything she sets her mind to!