It was revealed later in the show that when the game began with all 20 castaways on the same island, Westman was in an early alliance with Ian Rosenberger, Katie Gallagher and Stephenie LaGrossa.
As Ulong's numbers dwindled until only LaGrossa remained, she joined Koror in Episode Nine in an unofficial merge.
In the endurance immunity challenge, after close to 12 hours, Rosenberger agreed to step down and be voted off in a sign of repentance for betraying Westman and Gallagher.
At the beginning of the game, he made an alliance with Colby Donaldson and fellow Palau contestant Stephenie LaGrossa.
At the fourth Tribal Council (third for the Heroes), he played the idol which negated three votes cast against him, sending Cirie Fields home instead.
In 2011, he was officially inducted into the Xfinity "Survivor Hall of Fame," alongside Cook Islands castaway Ozzy Lusth and Panama contestant Cirie Fields.
[5] A New York City firefighter for twenty years, Westman retired from Ladder Company 108 in 2005 and transitioned to working in the insurance industry.