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Overcast Oceansider wins big on 'Wheel of Fortune'
Andrew Satriano has spent many nights watching “Wheel of Fortune” from the comfort of his Oceanside home. Most of the time he’s competing with his older brother, David — both graduates with degrees in English from Binghamton University — to see who could solve the puzzles first.
Satriano, 28, who works in customer service for Wild by Nature Market in Oceanside, put his vocabulary skills to the ultimate test when he appeared on the long-running, iconic ABC show as a contestant on Oct. 28. His experience watching the show clearly paid off, as he solved nearly every puzzle, including the bonus round, to earn a prize of more than $80,000. Those winnings included two trips, to Charleston, S.C. and Maui.
It was a surreal experience being on a show he’s been a fan of for so many years, said Andrew. “It didn't feel real when I was up there,” he said. “In the beginning I was pretty nervous. But [Pat Sajak] makes you feel comfortable. He's a good host."
His brother and parents, Robert and Francine, made the trip with him to Culver City, Calif. to attend the taping, which occurred in July. Moments after Andrew solved the final puzzle — “I Admire You” — he was rushed on the game show floor by David, who was so eager to celebrate with his brother that he nearly knocked over Sajak. Their older sister, Lynsay, was unable to attend the taping, but watched the episode with Andrew and the rest of their family and many friends at a viewing party in their Oceanside home last week.
“I was just happy to be there,” Andrew said. “Been watching the show forever and trying to get on for a long time. Just being there was a great experience. Something I’ll never forget.”
